Career Averages - Aljamain Sterling
Career Averages - Cory Sandhagen
Aljamain Sterling - Fight History
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 46 of 89 | 51% | 220 of 293 | 6 of 11 | 54% | 1 | 0 | 13:49 |
| Youssef Zalal | 0 | 35 of 65 | 53% | 61 of 97 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 3:59 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 8 of 24 | 33% | 15 of 31 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:19 |
| Youssef Zalal | 0 | 4 of 16 | 25% | 17 of 33 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 15 of 29 | 51% | 67 of 88 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 2:25 |
| Youssef Zalal | 0 | 15 of 23 | 65% | 16 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 11 of 14 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:47 |
| Youssef Zalal | 0 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | --- | 1 | 0 | 3:48 | |
| 4 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 16 of 22 | 72% | 81 of 101 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 4:16 |
| Youssef Zalal | 0 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:11 | |
| 5 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 5 of 11 | 45% | 46 of 59 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 4:02 |
| Youssef Zalal | 0 | 10 of 18 | 55% | 21 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 46 of 89 | 51% | 25 of 56 | 12 of 16 | 9 of 17 | 25 of 59 | 15 of 22 | 6 of 8 |
| Youssef Zalal | 35 of 65 | 53% | 25 of 51 | 6 of 7 | 4 of 7 | 32 of 62 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 8 of 24 | 33% | 5 of 14 | 2 of 3 | 1 of 7 | 5 of 19 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 4 |
| Youssef Zalal | 4 of 16 | 25% | 3 of 11 | 0 of 1 | 1 of 4 | 4 of 16 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 15 of 29 | 51% | 6 of 17 | 5 of 6 | 4 of 6 | 10 of 23 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Youssef Zalal | 15 of 23 | 65% | 11 of 19 | 2 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 15 of 23 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 2 of 3 | 66% | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Youssef Zalal | 3 of 4 | 75% | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Aljamain Sterling | 16 of 22 | 72% | 9 of 13 | 4 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 6 of 9 | 8 of 11 | 2 of 2 |
| Youssef Zalal | 3 of 4 | 75% | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Aljamain Sterling | 5 of 11 | 45% | 4 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 7 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 2 |
| Youssef Zalal | 10 of 18 | 55% | 8 of 16 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 17 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Zalal (-160); Sterling (+135)
Round 1
Say what we will about UFC card structure and matchmaking as of late, Sterling (25-5, 17-5 UFC) vs. Zalal (18-5-1, 8-3-1 UFC) is a dope matchup. We’ll let them do the talking from here, as referee Herb Dean handles the particulars and draws out a glove touch. It’s time for a featherweight main event.
The two bounce towards and measure one another, with Sterling the one advancing and throwing the majority of the offense early on. Zalal counters with a sharp left hand, and he keeps his jab outstretched. Sterling offers up a number of kicks, missing on several of them. He catches up to “The Moroccan Devil” with a reaching right hand, but it is one-and-done. Sterling circles from side to side while Zalal aims jabs at him, and he shoots in for a single and lifts one of his foe’s legs in the air.
Sterling transitions to a body lock, and when he does not get as Zalal circles out, Sterling trips him up on the way out. Zalal gathers himself easily enough and is about to leap at Sterling with a knee, but Sterling kicks his plant leg out from beneath him to race on top and establish top control. Sterling advances to half guard fairly comfortably while Zalal bops him in either side of the head with his free left fist, and he offers a few elbows off his back as well. Zalal keeps attacking until he can suddenly throw his legs up for a potential armbar. Sterling sits up and takes a breath to calm himself, not twisting or wriggling to put himself further in danger. The former champ works out of it and repositions himself back into half guard. Zalal goes for the triangle again, shoving Sterling back a smidge with an upkick to the chest. Before Zalal can stand, Sterling leaps on top of him and drives knees and elbows to the side until five minutes are up.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Round 2
There is a quick glove touch to get started, and Sterling winds up behind two powerful low kicks. Zalal quickly rushes back to circle away from the impact of those kicks, putting his back to the wall and exposing himself for the takedown that comes naturally from the former champ. Sterling considers a single but threatens with a body lock and lets go to scores a few punches. Zalal tries to time him on the way out but is out of range. He does chase Sterling down behind his fists, and he knees Sterling square in the beard. Sterling no-sells it like The Great Antonio against Antonio Inoki and puts the pressure on his foe. Zalal circles and drives home a right hand on the side of the dome. Both men take downs advancing, finding their way to attack and disengaging when it does not fully work. Sterling drops down for a single when pushing Zalal to the fencing, and he stands Zalal up with a couple of big punches on the break.
Zalal tries for another knee, and he wades back as Sterling lunges at him with long, winding hooks. Zalal’s jab is much straighter and quicker, ringing up Sterling a few times and forcing the former champ to try more unorthodox approaches like off-balance punches and oddly timed shots. Zalal spins to complete a back fist, and Sterling ducks it and tackles Zalal to the floor. Sterling hooks his legs around the waist to lock down a body triangle, where he postures up to hammer Zalal with punches to both sides of the head. Zalal turns all the way to give up his back, briefly breaking the body lock but unable to escape from the punches and hammerfists consistently raining down on him. Sterling bludgeons Zalal with well over a dozen unanswered strikes until Zalal turns away and tries to protect his neck. Sterling reasserts his dominant position when they both sit up, with his rapping his left hand around the guard again and again until the round is over.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Round 3
Zalal lands a low kick and immediately has to back off, with Sterling quick to corner him aiming body shots and pump-faking his hips. Sterling catches a knee on the chin and drives through to get hold of a single, bringing Zalal to a knee with his foe’s side against the fencing. When Zalal stands back up, he wraps up a guillotine choke, only for Sterling to scoop him up and deposit him gingerly down like a parent putting their young child on a diaper changing table in a public restroom. Zalal’s choke suddenly grows much tighter as Sterling finds himself in submission danger, but like before, the calm, cool cucumber that is the former champion moves just enough to relieve the tension on his throat and free himself. Zalal does establish himself on top after letting the choke go, but Sterling’s scrambles defend him from much of the ground-and-pound.
Sterling looks to push off the hips with butterfly hooks, switching suddenly to wrap up a partial triangle choke. When Zalal stands up to free his neck from the choke setup, Sterling belts him in the face with a crisp upkick. Zalal nods in approval and lowers himself back into the guard uncontested, where he maneuvers himself into side control and takes the back when Sterling scrambles. Zalal ties up a body triangle when he assumes back control, and Sterling sits up and defends his neck from any chokes coming his way. Zalal clings to his adversary but cannot isolate the neck, although his control ability and time sends a clear message. When Sterling gets to one knee, the round concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Zalal
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Zalal
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Zalal
Round 4
Sterling walks down Zalal as soon as the round begins, slugging him with several right hands and slinging numerous leg kicks. Zalal’s reaction changes and his body language gets worse as Sterling keeps battering his leg with powerful kicks. Sterling closes in and grabs Zalal from behind, rolling him to the mat and completing the body triangle less than a minute into the round. Sterling softens Zalal up with a steady stream of strong left hands, trapping Zalal with his arm on the other side. Sterling holds his choke arm very closely to under the chin, and Zalal motions that he is thinking about tapping but does not give up. Sterling cinches the forearm under the chin, and he has Zalal’s left arm trapped in the submission so he cannot quite finish it. Zalal grimaces and toughs it out as best he can, rolling over to his stomach to reduce the pressure.
Sterling yanks him back over and has the body triangle just as frustratingly tight as ever. Zalal turns to try to break up the body lock, and he is constantly absorbing strike after unanswered strike. Zalal rolls to his back, with Sterling fully in mount, and it is Sterling who holds on with an arm-triangle choke. The former champ decides not to lock it down so he can bash Zalal in the face again and again. Zalal somehow fights out of the body lock and wills himself back to his feet, but he is under fire immediately as Sterling tears into him with body shots, knees and a few elbows. As he beats down Zalal against the wall, the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Sterling
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-8 Sterling
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-8 Sterling
Round 5
Although Zalal initially comes out aggressively in the final frame, Sterling shuts him down before long with pressure and the threat of a looming takedown. Zalal ignores his concerns and lets his hands go, connecting squarely with a few punches to drive Sterling back. Sterling knows that his best path to victory is through his grappling, and he engages it. Pressing Zalal to the fencing, Sterling hunts for a single and transitions to a body lock with an outside trip. Zalal remains upright but is being controlled as precious seconds tick off the clock. Zalal pushes off at the midpoint of the round, and he throws once before Sterling is on him like a cheap suit.
Sterling swings like a Tasmanian devil, a veritable cloud of feet and fists surrounding him as he smashes directly into Zalal. Sterling’s strikes open up the takedown, which he completes and takes the wind out of the younger man’s sails. When Zalal turns, he exposes himself to the back take magician. Unsurprisingly, Sterling gladly secures back control with his body triangle locked down, and he starts railing Zalal with his left hand en masse. Zalal turns to take the sting out of it, and Sterling follows him and sticks his tongue out while grinning and nodding. Zalal turns to try to brawl while on the mat, and when he sits up, Sterling bludgeons, batters and bruises him with double axe handle smashes and Sakuraba-esque double punches. The moment the final horn blares, Sterling disengages, and he pumps his arms in the air certain that the victory is likely moments away.
The former training partners share plenty of laughs and good spirits after 25 minutes of combat. The victorious Sterling praises Zalal, suggesting that Zalal could fight for a title in the future. Until that happens, Sterling believes it is his time at 145 pounds. He asks for another fight against Movsar Evloev, while saying that he is also coming for champion Alexander Volkanovski. If that latter fight comes together, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling (49-45 Sterling)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sterling (49-45 Sterling)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sterling (49-45 Sterling)
The Official Result
Aljamain Sterling def. Youssef Zalal via Unanimous Decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-45)
Angelo leans on Aljamain Sterling, citing his five-round experience and wrestling edge. He acknowledges that Youssef Zalal is the better striker but believes Sterling's wrestling will be superior, referencing Sterling's performance against Movsar Evloev. He notes that Sterling opened as a favorite but is now an underdog, and he encourages rewatching the Evloev fight to see Sterling's scrambling ability.
Big Brady picks Youssef Zalal over Aljamain Sterling. He notes Zalal's recent improvements and finishing ability, and believes Zalal's cardio and pace will be advantages in a five-round fight. He thinks Sterling may slow down as the fight progresses, and predicts Zalal wins by decision.
Connor picks Sterling because he believes Sterling is more likely to get to his positions early and build a lead before Zalal's late surge. He notes Sterling's tendency to start fast and his experience against elite competition. However, he acknowledges Sterling's stamina issues and that his wins often feel unconvincing, but thinks Sterling's early rounds will be decisive enough to win a decision.
The host leans Zalal due to his output, aggression, pace, and volume, plus Sterling's decline and lack of power. However, he admits it's impossible to form a strong opinion because Zalal hasn't faced a wrestler like Sterling in years. He calls the odds fair coin-flip territory and passes on betting.
James picks Youssef Zalal based on stylistic matchup, believing Zalal's footwork and striking will cause problems for Sterling. He notes Zalal's recent improvements and age advantage, and predicts a finish inside the distance as Sterling gets desperate with takedowns.
Zalal is on an eight-fight winning streak with improved wrestling and submission defense. Sterling is a former champion but is 36 and has a questionable gas tank. Zalal should be able to defend Sterling's grappling, use his striking edge, and win a decision. He is the younger, more confident fighter with momentum.
Zane picks Zalal because he trusts Zalal's stamina for five rounds and doubts Sterling can maintain his dominant grappling game throughout. He notes Zalal has never been submitted and is excellent at scrambling out of positions. However, he admits it's hard to envision a clear winning path for Zalal and calls it a 'vote of faith' in Zalal's confidence and desire to win.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 55 of 174 | 31% | 100 of 225 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:08 |
| Brian Ortega | 0 | 124 of 227 | 54% | 153 of 262 | 3 of 6 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:55 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 2 of 28 | 7% | 2 of 28 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brian Ortega | 0 | 27 of 44 | 61% | 27 of 44 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 9 of 40 | 22% | 9 of 40 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brian Ortega | 0 | 13 of 54 | 24% | 13 of 54 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 21 of 42 | 50% | 21 of 42 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Brian Ortega | 0 | 35 of 52 | 67% | 35 of 52 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 4 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 13 of 37 | 35% | 29 of 55 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:02 |
| Brian Ortega | 0 | 25 of 39 | 64% | 35 of 49 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:36 | |
| 5 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 10 of 27 | 37% | 39 of 60 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:06 |
| Brian Ortega | 0 | 24 of 38 | 63% | 43 of 63 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:19 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 55 of 174 | 31% | 30 of 138 | 20 of 29 | 5 of 7 | 54 of 173 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Brian Ortega | 124 of 227 | 54% | 77 of 175 | 21 of 26 | 26 of 26 | 100 of 198 | 7 of 7 | 17 of 22 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 2 of 28 | 7% | 2 of 25 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 28 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Brian Ortega | 27 of 44 | 61% | 16 of 32 | 3 of 4 | 8 of 8 | 27 of 44 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 9 of 40 | 22% | 5 of 33 | 4 of 6 | 0 of 1 | 9 of 40 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Brian Ortega | 13 of 54 | 24% | 6 of 44 | 1 of 4 | 6 of 6 | 12 of 53 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 21 of 42 | 50% | 8 of 27 | 8 of 10 | 5 of 5 | 21 of 42 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Brian Ortega | 35 of 52 | 67% | 25 of 42 | 2 of 2 | 8 of 8 | 34 of 51 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Aljamain Sterling | 13 of 37 | 35% | 8 of 29 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 12 of 36 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 |
| Brian Ortega | 25 of 39 | 64% | 13 of 26 | 9 of 10 | 3 of 3 | 16 of 30 | 3 of 3 | 6 of 6 | |
| 5 | Aljamain Sterling | 10 of 27 | 37% | 7 of 24 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 10 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Brian Ortega | 24 of 38 | 63% | 17 of 31 | 6 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 20 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 16 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
On merit and divisional relevance, this probably should have been the main event, but that divisional relevance was obliterated by Ortega’s weight cut failure, leading to a 153-pound catchweight affair. It’s still a hell of a fight, however, and when the featherweight contenders go to work, Herb Dean will be tasked with his final referee assignment of the event. Both men are in orthodox stance to open things up, and both come up short with reaching jabs in the first exchanges. Ortega goes southpaw. Thirty seconds in, Sterling feints his first level change, but no takedown attempt follows. Sterling throws a one-two that Ortega slips by pulling his head straight back, then nearly spills him with a nicely timed low kick. Sterling lands a pair of glancing punches and easily eludes the counter. Ortega is barely throwing anything back thus far in the fight. As I type that, he launches a blistering right cross that comes up just barely short. Two minutes left in the first round and Sterling lands another solid low kick—an investment in attrition, especially if this goes into the scheduled fourth and fifth rounds. Sterling with another chopping low kick that lands high on the calf. With under 30 seconds to go, it’s been all Sterling, but Ortega comes forward and lands his best punch of the round before the horn.
10-9 Sterling.
Round 2
Sterling is busy with the jab right away. Ortega throws a high kick that Sterling evades by slipping his head off the center line. Sterling is methodical, coming forward with his jab and cross, nailing Ortega with a calf kick anytime he stands his ground. It isn’t dazzling but it’s brutally effective, as Ortega is throwing next to nothing, aside from single big shots. Sterling tries a spinning backfist that glances without damage. Ortega takes the front foot midway through the round, backing up the former bantamweight champ and throwing righty haymakers. Sterling gives ground, keeps his chin out of range and keeps working on the lead leg. Sterling catches Ortega with a sweeping right hook and Ortega backs off, pawing at his left eye. Sterling looks at the referee, who states that it was a punch, not a finger, and indicates that they should keep fighting. They do not do so immediately, Sterling does not press the issue, and the result is effectively a 45-second timeout after no foul. Once they resume fighting, the round ends without any more substantive offense from either man.
10-9 Sterling.
Round 3
Sterling has to walk two-thirds of the way across the Octagon in order to touch gloves with Ortega; a decent metaphor for this fight in general. Ortega comes forward, snapping out his jab, and tags Sterling with a low kick. Ortega fires off another kick, this one clattering audibly off of Sterling’s cup, but Sterling waves off any intervention by Dean. Sterling continues to give ground in the face of Ortega’s advance, but is still landing more and better strikes. Ortega gets through with another good leg kick, and Sterling catches his next one, hoisting the kicking leg and punching him before letting go. Sterling snaps Ortega’s head back with a jab, then sits him down with a calf kick. Ortega pops back to his feet and lands a good low kick of his own. Sterling steps forward and connects with a long jab. Ortega marches Sterling to the fence but can’t capitalize before he slips out the side. Under a minute to go and Ortega is definitely the aggressor, but that shouldn’t be enough to win the round in the face of the disparity in offense. Ortega catches a kick but can’t land anything of consequence. Ortega fires off a stream of punches at the clapper, but it’s Sterling who connects with a spinning back elbow.
10-9 Sterling.
Round 4
The fourth round begins with Ortega down three to zero on our scorecard, but showing signs of life at the end of the last frame. “T-City” keeps up the pressure, stalking Sterling and trying to back him into the fence. Sterling continues to give ground, but he is still the one landing more and harder strikes. Ortega finally corrals him against the cage, but Sterling slips a couple of haymakers and makes his way back to open space. Two minutes into the round, Ortega is game but still a step behind, as he has been for essentially the entire fight. Sterling snaps his head back with a jab, then delivers another kick to Ortega’s battered left calf. Ortega makes things interesting, swarming forward, catching Sterling against the fence and throwing a flurry of punches with both hands. Many of them glance, but enough of them land that Sterling has to cover and back off. Ortega clinches with him against the fence, and Sterling dumps him to the canvas a moment later, settling in the jiu-jitsu ace’s full guard. Sterling is defensively sound and heavy on top, keeping his posture low while throwing short punches and looking to pass the guard. He postures up and drops a couple of punches and elbows before the horn.
10-9 Sterling.
Round 5
Ortega gets the now-or-never pep talk from his corner before the final round, and comes out hot. Sterling meets him with yet another hard low kick, but he’s forced to retreat in the face of Ortega’s attack. Ortega catches Sterling with a wide hook, his best punch of the fight, and Sterling backs off. Ortega initiates a takedown, but Sterling lands in top position, in Ortega’s full guard. Sterling postures up to look for ground strikes, then stand up out of the guard, and as Ortega gets up, Sterling catches him with a timed, but legal, knee to the dome. Ortega gets to his feet and catches Sterling with a right hand that hurts him. Sterling is in retreat, trying to recover and evade further damage as Ortega gives chase. He avoids the follow-up, but the strategy is so obvious that he draws a warning from Dean for timidity. Ortega crashes the pocket and clinches, but as the go down, it’s Sterling who takes Ortega’s back. Sterling sinks his hooks in and looks for a choke, but Ortega sweeps to top position. Sterling sweeps him right back and throws leather from guard until the horn.
10-9 Sterling (50-45 Sterling).
The Official Result
Aljamain Sterling def. Brian Ortega via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45)
Angelo is extremely confident in Aljamain Sterling, calling him a backpack grappler with developed striking and spectacular ground game. He dismisses Brian Ortega as not very good anymore, relying only on toughness. He expects Sterling to get takedowns and dominate on the ground, likely by decision due to Ortega's toughness. He says this is one of his most confident picks on the card.
Big Brady picks Aljamain Sterling to win by decision, citing Sterling's minute-winning ability on the feet and slick grappling. He notes that Sterling throws high volume and can take Ortega down, though he must watch for submissions. He believes Ortega is dangerous but hittable, and that Sterling will control the fight and win a decision.
Connor notes that Brian Ortega's game has disintegrated; he used to rely on durability but now gets hurt early in fights. He highlights that Ortega is a guard grappler but hasn't gotten a guard submission since 2017, and his wrestling is an afterthought. Sterling, on the other hand, is a much better wrestler who can dictate grappling exchanges and pile up volume on the feet. Connor is curious to see how Sterling handles Ortega's guard, but believes Sterling's positional grappling will keep him on top.
The host sees this as a fun grappling matchup, but thinks Sterling's advantage in wrestling and control will shut down Ortega's aggressive BJJ. He expects Sterling to grind out a boring fight and win on the scorecards.
The MMA Guru picks Aljamain Sterling to win by decision, citing Ortega's poor weight cut and zombie-like appearance at weigh-ins. He believes Sterling is more disciplined and professional, with better wrestling and positional grappling. He notes that Sterling can avoid Ortega's submission threats by pushing him against the cage and working from the back. He also thinks Sterling will do well on the feet, as Ortega has looked lost there at times.
Zane agrees that Sterling is the pick, citing Ortega's decline and the fact that he gets hurt in every fight now. He points out that Ortega's entire career has been about absorbing damage, and that Sterling's wrestling and speed will give Ortega problems. Zane also notes that Sterling has never faced a guard grappler like Ortega, but believes Sterling's mindful positional grappling will avoid spending much time in Ortega's guard.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Movsar Evloev | 0 | 8 of 26 | 30% | 136 of 165 | 4 of 5 | 80% | 0 | 1 | 6:09 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 12 of 26 | 46% | 45 of 67 | 6 of 8 | 75% | 0 | 2 | 6:16 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Movsar Evloev | 0 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 16 of 26 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:55 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 3 of 11 | 27% | 7 of 18 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:49 | |
| 2 | Movsar Evloev | 0 | 3 of 9 | 33% | 48 of 58 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:25 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 5 of 8 | 62% | 25 of 30 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 2 | 0:48 | |
| 3 | Movsar Evloev | 0 | 4 of 11 | 36% | 72 of 81 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 1 | 1:49 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 13 of 19 | 3 of 3 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:39 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Movsar Evloev | 8 of 26 | 30% | 6 of 23 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 | 6 of 22 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 3 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 12 of 26 | 46% | 7 of 16 | 5 of 8 | 0 of 2 | 9 of 23 | 2 of 2 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Movsar Evloev | 1 of 6 | 16% | 0 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 5 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 3 of 11 | 27% | 1 of 5 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Movsar Evloev | 3 of 9 | 33% | 2 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 5 of 8 | 62% | 3 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Movsar Evloev | 4 of 11 | 36% | 4 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 4 of 7 | 57% | 3 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 | 2 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Evloev (-265), Sterling (+215)
Round 1
Surprising many paying attention, this likely featherweight title eliminator is situated firmly on the prelims despite several lower-ranked contests at 145 playing out later on the billing. Evloev (18-0, 8-0 UFC) is not complaining, as he noted—likely accurately at that—that more people will be watching the ESPN-broadcasted prelims than tuning into the paid portion later. Sterling (24-4, 16-4 UFC) is not buying it and feels disrespected by his promotion, but that is nothing unusual for him given his history at bantamweight. This potentially fascinating grappling match will play out under the oversight of referee Jason Herzog, and it opens up with a glove touch. Sterling stalks his way forward, jabbing his way in and kicking with the ball of his foot. Evloev hops out of the way from a body kick, and one to his lead leg lands. Sterling catches him at the end of a right hand, and the Russian shrugs it off. Evloev kicks the front leg, and Sterling tries to time a head kick when Evloev ducks. Sterling connects with another big right hand, and he shoots in and drags Evloev down to force Evloev to put his hands on the mat. Chants of “USA” boom through the arena, and Sterling channels this energy and knees Evloev hard in the side. Sterling hangs on from the side and nearly back, and he complains that Evloev is grabbing his glove. Evloev adjusts and scoots his way to the wall, with Sterling following him every scoot of the way. Sterling has his hands clasped around Evloev’s waist, and he gets in a hook to take the back. “Funk Master” slides the second hook in, and he holds on tight while trying to free his right hand to set something up. Sterling again mentions that his glove is being grabbed, and Evloev elbows behind him on either side. Evloev stands up, and Sterling is still wrapped around him. The former bantamweight king lifts Evloev off the ground and slams him down, and the ensuing scramble allows Evloev to take his back. Sterling ducks a strike and is taken to the floor, and he sets up a guillotine choke but is in the wrong angle to get it. Evloev turns the corner as Sterling sits up, and he lowers himself down and wraps Sterling up in a crucifix as he drops to his back. The close round ends with Sterling taking punches upside the head.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Round 2
Sterling is the initial aggressor in the second round, pushing out a front kick, dropping back to avoid a few punches and crashing through to put Evloev on his seat. Evloev scrambles well enough to get to 50/50 position, and he stands up as Sterling holds onto his single leg. Evloev flips him around and lowers himself down in side control, hooking his legs around Sterling’s arm to go for a crucifix. Evloev takes the back, but Sterling pulls his hook out and turns. Evloev lands a few hammerfists to the side of the head as Herzog says “ears” a few times to let Evloev know that he needs to aim for the ears and not hit the back of the head. Sterling explodes around to get out of harm, and he wraps up Evloev and tries to slam him down on his face in what would have been a pro wrestling-style move. Evloev does not fall victim to it, turning around to shoot for a single. Sterling stifles it and loads up on a right hand, and Evloev backs him off with a right hand and a kick. Evloev wings a spinning wheel kick, and when planting his foot, he drills “Funk Master” in the face with a strong right hand. The success of the strike allows the Russian to shoot in and put Sterling on his back. Evloev looks to assert himself in half guard, even briefly considering an arm-triangle choke only to get elbowed in the side of the head a few times. Evloev takes Sterling’s back, and Sterling does not appear concern and instead scrambles out of it without much concern. Evloev again sets up a crucifix, and Sterling counters with a single and briefly gets top position. This back-and-forth grappling match is living up to the hype, and Sterling pursues a double when Evloev gets away. The horn sounds with Sterling in the midst of the shot.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Evloev
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Evloev
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Evloev
Round 3
Having reached the final round, both men clap hands. Sterling flashes out a front kick and a long jab, and he is able to escape the lunging Evloev from landing on him. Sterling ducks a big punch and gets off an uppercut, and he dips down low to evade a spinning back fist and tackles the Russian to the floor. Evloev returns to a knee, and Sterling remains busy pursuing the takedown. Evloev wraps an arm around Sterling’s head, and Sterling takes advantage of this by slinging Evloev down on his face. Evloev pushes off the floor to stand, and Sterling is leaning on him imposing his will while the crowd is in full support of the American. Sterling jams Evloev against the fence, allowing Evloev to knee him so he can move around to partially take Evloev’s back standing. Sterling drags Evloev to the floor, and as they slide around in a furious series of scrambles, Evloev flips his man over and resides on top. Evloev slugs Sterling in the chops a few times while they are both seated, and Sterling explodes back to his feet. Evloev whips Sterling around and back down, and he gets one hook in but is dropped on his head. Sterling does not escape the downed position, on both knees as Evloev punches him on the side of the head. Evloev turns Sterling to his back, and he opens up with punches. Sterling gets his hooks in and briefly holds the back, and when he scrambles, Evloev hooks his leg around Sterling’s shoulder. The final bell sounds while the two are in the midst of grappling, and it could be anyone’s game.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Evloev (29-28 Evloev)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Evloev (29-28 Evloev)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Evloev (29-28 Evloev)
The Official Result
Movsar Evloev def. Aljamain Sterling via Unanimous Decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Angelo picks Movsar Evloev confidently, stating Evloev is a better wrestler than Sterling and has superior striking. He dismisses Sterling's unorthodox striking as not intentionally effective. Angelo believes Evloev will take Sterling down at will and control the fight, similar to how he beat Arnold Allen. He expects a dominant performance.
Cody picks Sterling as a live underdog, citing his superior striking and wrestling. He notes Sterling's wins over top competition and believes his volume and back-taking ability will trouble Evloev. He expects a decision win for Sterling.
Connor picks Sterling because he believes Sterling has more tools to win if he can keep Evloev from wrestling. He notes that Evloev's pressure-based style can be shut down, and that Sterling's high-output striking and grappling are well-suited to a three-round fight. Connor also points out that Evloev has been walking a fine line and has been hurt in fights, while Sterling has shown improvement in his striking. He acknowledges that Sterling's cardio could be an issue but thinks over three rounds it might be enough.
Daniel believes Evloev is ahead in every area, with better grappling and striking. He criticizes Sterling's cardio, striking technique, and takedown entries. He notes Evloev's ability to survive submission attempts and his punching power, citing damage done to Arnold Allen.
Evloev's grappling ability and scrambling will keep him out of bad positions from Sterling. He can remain in dominant position or use defensive grappling to stay upright and touch up Sterling, who doesn't look comfortable striking. Evloev will put together a good body of work through grappling and striking to win on the scorecards.
Paul picks Sterling, calling it a lock. He highlights Sterling's technical skills, wrestling, and ability to win rounds. He thinks Evloev's takedowns won't be as effective and Sterling's striking advantage will be key. He expects a decision win.
The MMA Guru picks Evloev, believing he is too much for Sterling on the feet. He notes Evloev's improved standup, quicker punches, and ability to mix in takedowns. He trusts Evloev to win close rounds by shooting takedowns in the last 30 seconds to sway judges. He predicts a 29-27 decision with all rounds competitive.
Zane picks Evloev, citing that he does not fully trust Sterling as a featherweight. He notes that Sterling's style, which relies on volume and wrestling, may not work against a bigger, aggressive grappler like Evloev. Zane points out that Evloev has shown he can handle high-level grappling, as seen in his fight with Diego Lopez, and that Sterling has a history of gassing. He also mentions that Sterling has never faced a fighter like Evloev who is eager to grapple and pressure.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 8 of 29 | 27% | 19 of 40 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
| Calvin Kattar | 0 | 39 of 71 | 54% | 89 of 128 | 8 of 13 | 61% | 0 | 0 | 10:43 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 6 of 23 | 26% | 10 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Calvin Kattar | 0 | 15 of 33 | 45% | 16 of 35 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 0 | 0 | 1:51 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 4 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Calvin Kattar | 0 | 14 of 20 | 70% | 30 of 37 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 4:10 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
| Calvin Kattar | 0 | 10 of 18 | 55% | 43 of 56 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 4:42 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 8 of 29 | 27% | 7 of 26 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 7 of 26 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 1 |
| Calvin Kattar | 39 of 71 | 54% | 12 of 40 | 15 of 17 | 12 of 14 | 23 of 46 | 5 of 5 | 11 of 20 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 6 of 23 | 26% | 6 of 21 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 20 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 1 |
| Calvin Kattar | 15 of 33 | 45% | 4 of 20 | 3 of 4 | 8 of 9 | 12 of 27 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 5 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 2 of 5 | 40% | 1 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Calvin Kattar | 14 of 20 | 70% | 4 of 9 | 7 of 8 | 3 of 3 | 9 of 15 | 4 of 4 | 1 of 1 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Calvin Kattar | 10 of 18 | 55% | 4 of 11 | 5 of 5 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 14 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sterling (-170), Kattar (+142)
Round 1
The storied rivalry of Boston vs. New York continues with a featherweight contest pitting “The Boston Finisher” Kattar (23-7, 7-5 UFC) against former bantamweight champ Sterling (23-9, 14-4 UFC). This will be a sink-or-swim moment for the New York-based funk-style wrestler, as he jumps into the deep end in his new weight class. The fighters will have 15 minutes or less to prove their case as contenders at 145 pounds, while referee Jason Herzog watches over every step of the way. Fists are not bumped, and instead Sterling wants to crowd forward and start attacking. Sterling reaches out with side kicks to the knee, and Kattar skirts out of the way a few times to take the sting out of them. Sterling wings a right hand that catches his foe on the side of the head, and Kattar stands form and moves away to check a low kick and push out his own jab. Kattar whips a head kick up and nearly clears the shoulder, but Sterling pushes past it and tries to tie him up. Kattar tosses him aside and slowly walks him down. Sterling fakes dropping down for a leg, and he fires off two wide hooks. A high kick from Sterling misses the mark, but several low kicks connect in succession. Sterling continues chipping away from afar with low kicks or the occasional one to the body, and he keeps Kattar from doing much. Sterling shoots in for a single, lifting Kattar’s leg up, but Kattar defends by scoring several punches up close. On Sterling’s second attempt, he leverages “The Boston Finisher” down to the canvas. Kattar pushes on the back of the head to stand back up, and Sterling lifts him off the ground to find a better angle to approach. Kattar leans with his back to the wall, and Sterling sneaks a single hook in as he methodically looks to take the back. Kattar muscles his way upright, and Sterling hits a quick mat return of sorts. Sterling wrenches Kattar all the way down to the ground, and he continues to set up his back take. Sterling ducks down, releasing the grip, so he can let loose a right hand over the top. Kattar sheds him, and he gets kicked in the ribs on the way out. Sterling pushes off his foe’s knee when Kattar advances, and he spins a spinning back fist as Kattar continues to walk him down. Sterling’s awkward movement and takedown efforts shut most of Kattar’s offense down, and Sterling manages to secure a single-leg takedown and climb on top to conclude the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
James Mannino scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Round 2
Sterling commences the round with a low kick, and he kicks the other side to trip Kattar up when Kattar tries to throw a punch. Sterling chains a head kick into a level change, and he backs Kattar to the wire and drives a knee to the chest. Sterling trips Kattar’s other leg up to sit him down, and the audience starts to boo Sterling’s efforts. Sterling has a single deep, and he appears to motion or nod to Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg, who is sitting cageside. Sterling gets Kattar all the way down, only for the Massachusetts native bounce back to his feet in short order. Sterling keeps after a single until there is no way in, and he opts to split Kattar’s legs far apart against the fence to disrupt his balance. When that too does not result in a change in position, Sterling knees the thigh several times and tries to impose his body weight to drag Kattar down. Sterling has a knee brush on the cup of his foe, but Kattar signals he is fine. Sterling clings to his man until he slides off the side, and he dodges a front kick and advances with a trio of punches. Sterling retreats, circling away from anything Kattar tries to reach him with, until he kicks low and aims body shots. The punches from Sterling lead to a level change, where he completes an easy double to rend Kattar to the floor. Sterling moves to side control and stays there, where he holds Kattar down and thwarts any potential offense coming back his way. Sterling continues to grind in the position until the horn blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
James Mannino scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Round 3
Sterling practically races out of his corner, throwing looping punches and a high kick until he closes in and grips hold of his adversary. Sterling chucks Kattar down to the mat without much effort, and Kattar posts off his arms to push himself back up. Sterling grapples him from behind, where he pushes Kattar to the wall with a hook in from behind. Kattar fights off the back take to turn himself to the fence, and Sterling switches up for a single. Kattar hangs on, and Sterling lowers him down to the ground comfortably. The crowd is not amused by Sterling’s strategy, and they let him have it as time ticks off the clock. Herzog asks Sterling to do more than hold in this position, and Sterling answers by lifting Kattar’s legs up to scoot him away from the cage wall and put him in a more horizontal position. Sterling keeps smothering until he sets up an arm-triangle choke, and he considers stepping over to one side but opts to go to the other instead to maintain control. Sterling knees the side a few times, and Kattar explodes to his knees and stands up. Sterling uses all of his might, lifting “The Boston Finisher” in the air and slamming him in the mat in a maneuver reminiscent of a pro wrestling powerbomb. The slam hurts Kattar, and Sterling recognizes this and tries to pound his damaged man out. Kattar manages to gather his thoughts as Sterling lays into him, and he grips hold of the waist to keep Sterling from landing anything especially harmful. Sterling attempts to posture up, and Kattar follows him by sitting up, ignoring any offense landing on his ribs. Sterling turns a potentially guillotine choke to a brabo choke, and Kattar sits out of it. Sterling drops hammers right until the end, putting a stamp on a clear-cut dominant performance.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling (30-27 Sterling)
Christian Stein scores the round: 10-9 Sterling (30-27 Sterling)
James Mannino scores the round: 10-9 Sterling (30-27 Sterling)
The Official Result
Aljamain Sterling def. Calvin Kattar via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Angelo slightly leans Aljamain Sterling due to Kattar's 18-month layoff and knee surgery, which could cause ring rust. He notes Sterling's takedown accuracy is poor but his relentless wrestling may be enough. He acknowledges Kattar is the better striker and if he stuffs takedowns, he wins. He calls it razor thin at 51-49.
Cody sees this as a live underdog spot. He notes Sterling's wrestling may not translate to 145 lbs, as his grappling diminishes against bigger opponents. Sterling has been reluctant to shoot takedowns, as seen against Sean O'Malley, and was knocked out. Kattar has 91% takedown defense in the UFC, stuffing attempts from wrestlers like Dan Ige and Josh Emmett. Cody believes Kattar's volume and power advantage will be key, and if he stuffs takedowns, he can outpoint Sterling. He also mentions Sterling's mentality of wanting to grind out boring fights, which may not impress judges in a hot Vegas crowd.
Connor also picks Kattar with a cloud of question marks. He notes that Sterling is a creative takedown artist but moving up in weight against a big featherweight. Connor points out that wrestlers moving up rarely succeed, and Kattar's defensive wrestling has been solid. He also mentions that Kattar is a slow starter but has power and size advantages.
Daniel Vreeland leans toward Calvin Kattar as a dog, citing his boxing advantage and takedown defense. He acknowledges Sterling's grappling threat but believes Kattar's size and striking can keep the fight standing. Vreeland is concerned about Kattar's injury layoff and Sterling's experience, but sees value in the underdog.
Lucrative James does not make a pick for this fight. He says it's a really good fight and he is excited to see how Aljamain Sterling bounces back from losing his bantamweight title now fighting at featherweight. He does not give a prediction.
Kattar holds a striking advantage and will touch up Sterling from distance. He will shut down takedown attempts and batter Sterling on the feet, winning a decision. Sterling's featherweight debut will be tough.
Paul picks Kattar as a dog, citing the weight change for Sterling and Kattar's takedown defense. He notes that few have tried to wrestle Kattar, and those who did (Dan Ige, Josh Emmett) had little success. Paul thinks if Sterling can't get takedowns, it becomes a competitive standup fight where Kattar has more power. He also mentions Sterling's recent knockout loss and his apparent mental state, questioning his motivation. Paul believes Kattar can keep the fight standing and win a decision or even get a knockout.
The MMA Guru picks Aljamain Sterling to win, citing Kattar's long layoff and leg injury. He believes Sterling's grappling will be too much for Kattar, especially targeting the injured rear leg with single legs. He expects Sterling to either finish or ride out a decision.
Zane picks Kattar despite many question marks. He notes that Kattar is a big featherweight with power, and Sterling is moving up for the first time. Zane argues that wrestlers moving up rarely look their best, and Sterling's inefficient style may not translate well. He also points out that Kattar has faced few dedicated wrestlers, but Sterling's first fight at 145 could be a disadvantage.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 0 | 17 of 35 | 48% | 24 of 46 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:34 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 1 | 25 of 35 | 71% | 26 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 13 of 26 | 50% | 20 of 37 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:21 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 8 of 14 | 57% | 8 of 14 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Sean O'Malley | 0 | 4 of 9 | 44% | 4 of 9 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:13 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 1 | 17 of 21 | 80% | 18 of 22 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:18 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sean O'Malley | 17 of 35 | 48% | 3 of 12 | 3 of 10 | 11 of 13 | 16 of 33 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 25 of 35 | 71% | 18 of 25 | 6 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 10 of 16 | 1 of 1 | 14 of 18 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sean O'Malley | 13 of 26 | 50% | 0 of 5 | 2 of 8 | 11 of 13 | 13 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 8 of 14 | 57% | 3 of 6 | 4 of 7 | 1 of 1 | 7 of 13 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Sean O'Malley | 4 of 9 | 44% | 3 of 7 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 7 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Aljamain Sterling | 17 of 21 | 80% | 15 of 19 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 18 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sterling (-258), O’Malley (+210)
Round 1
In the main attraction inside of the
Boston Garden
FleetCenter
TD Banknorth Garden
TD Garden, two men with no particular affinity to Beantown will collide for bantamweight gold. In the truest sense of the overused phrase, this is a pure grappler vs. striker affair, one that pits defending champ Sterling (23-3, 15-3 UFC) against the exceptionally accurate O’Malley (16-1, 1 NC; 8-1, 1 NC UFC). Should Sterling get his hand raised, he will set the record for the most consecutive defenses in the division’s history, while O’Malley can become the second champion to make his way to the promotion from Dana White’s Contender Series – Jamahal Hill was the first. There is nothing more that needs to be said from these two or about these two, and referee Marc Goddard brings the two together to make the title fight official. The staredown lasts from the moment Bruce Buffer starts speaking through to part of the introductions, and they are intense. They do touch gloves, and it’s on with the show. When they come together, Sterling is quick to swat O’Malley’s hands down. Sterling leaps forward with front kicks and side kicks, and he reaches out with long jabs while O’Malley stays out of reach. Sterling lands a solid leg kick as he races after O’Malley, and O’Malley responds with a front kick. Sterling keeps busy with kicks to any target, and O’Malley jabs to the body. O’Malley pushes the pace and draws a reaction out of his opponent, and the crowd rains down a profane chant against the champion. Sterling puts his foot on the gas, and he leans back from a long left hand that comes at his chin. The two take turns leading the dance, but O’Malley’s work rate is quite low through the first half of the round. O’Malley feints and fakes his way in, and he has to block a body kick that gets past his guard. Sterling chips away at the lead leg, and he absorbs a front kick on the ribs. Sterling peppers O’Malley with three low kicks before O’Malley gives him a stomping kick back to his knee. Sterling’s inside calf kicks force a stance switch early, and O’Malley lunges forward but does not fire off anything. Sterling reacts significantly when O’Malley is about to strike, and he picks at O’Malley’s leg while strafing to the side. O’Malley drops his hands to taunt Sterling into coming at him, and Sterling keeps ripping leg kicks and little else. Sterling blazes past his foe with a kick, and O’Malley settles down and fires off a spinning back kick that backs him off. Sterling shoots in for a single, and he jams O’Malley up against the fence while holding his foe’s leg in the air. Sterling lands several short punches, and the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Round 2
The second round begins with the two rushing towards one another, and O’Malley lashes out with a kick that he misses and falls over after throwing. Sterling comes at him and pursues a takedown, and O’Malley backs himself against the wall to stay up. O’Malley shuts it down and drops back to line up a right hand, and Sterling misses with a punch and gets cracked right on the chin. Sterling crashes down to the ground on his face, and he turns to his side in an effort to get his wits about him. O’Malley follows him down and clubs him with hammerfists, and Sterling is moving but still taking damage. O’Malley continues his bombardment of punches, and Goddard is closely watching over things. Sterling turns over and looks to reach out with his left arm for a potential takedown, and Goddard waves the fight off. Some may consider it an early stoppage, given how Sterling was still moving and defending himself. Nevertheless, the fight is over and O’Malley is now the UFC’s bantamweight champion, and he is the second fighter off the Contender Series to claim a UFC strap. The landscape of the 135-pound weight class has now changed drastically, and a wealth of options present themselves for O’Malley first defense and upcoming title reign. Marlon Vera, Merab Dvalishvili, Umar Nurmagomedov and a few others are right in contention, and it will be interesting to see how it turns out. In his post-fight interview, O’Malley mentions that he would be up for his first defense against Vera this December, and Vera immediately responded on social media with a post of dollar signs and bags of cash. If that is the fight the UFC makes for its Dec. 16 pay-per-view card, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.
The Official Result
Sean O’Malley def. Aljamain Sterling R2 0:51 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks Aljamain Sterling, expecting his wrestling to take over as Sean O'Malley slows down in the later rounds. He notes that O'Malley gassed in a three-round fight and this is five rounds. He thinks Sterling could win by submission but acknowledges O'Malley's toughness and striking threat. He believes Sterling's range management and takedowns will be the difference.
Big Brady picks Sean O'Malley to win by fourth-round knockout, but admits he's terrified of Sterling's early grappling. He believes O'Malley can stuff takedowns and make Sterling work, causing Sterling to slow down. Brady notes O'Malley's striking advantage and power, and thinks if O'Malley survives the first few rounds, he can finish Sterling late.
Cody believes Sterling's grappling and wrestling are a notch above O'Malley's, and that Sterling will take O'Malley down, control him, and win rounds. He notes that O'Malley's camp lacks confidence, and that the line is inflated due to O'Malley's popularity. He expects Sterling to win by decision or submission, and likes the value at -260.
Daniel Levi leans toward Aljamain Sterling, acknowledging that Sterling should be favored but questioning whether the -255 price is warranted. He notes that Sterling has a clear path to victory if O'Malley has no answer when his back is taken, but if O'Malley can stretch the fight out, all bets are off. Levi mentions that Sterling's cardio fades in championship rounds due to massive weight cuts, which could open a late path for O'Malley. He also highlights that O'Malley's confidence and training with Taki Mendez might help him survive early grappling exchanges. Ultimately, Levi picks Sterling but is not fully confident, as he is intrigued by O'Malley's potential to survive and capitalize late.
Lucrative James picks Sean O'Malley, citing his distance management, footwork, and underrated jiu-jitsu. He believes Sterling's frequent weight cuts and recent activity may affect his performance. He sees value on O'Malley's moneyline and thinks O'Malley could get a knockout or win rounds on damage.
Sterling has a clear grappling advantage and should be able to take O'Malley down and control him. O'Malley's takedown defense has been a weakness, and Sterling's pressure and back-taking ability will be key. Sterling will likely win a decision rather than chase a finish, conserving energy. The decision prop is the best play.
The MMA Guru picks Aljamain Sterling over Sean O'Malley. He believes Sterling's grappling will be the difference, as O'Malley will be worried about takedowns. He notes Sterling's tricky movement and ability to pressure O'Malley backwards. He predicts Sterling will take O'Malley down early, get his back, and win by TKO via ground and pound in round 1 or 2. He thinks Sterling will prove a point.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 135 of 210 | 64% | 186 of 261 | 4 of 15 | 26% | 0 | 0 | 4:00 |
| Henry Cejudo | 0 | 99 of 174 | 56% | 143 of 219 | 3 of 8 | 37% | 0 | 0 | 5:06 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 20 of 34 | 58% | 29 of 43 | 2 of 3 | 66% | 0 | 0 | 1:37 |
| Henry Cejudo | 0 | 7 of 18 | 38% | 15 of 26 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:47 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 29 of 55 | 52% | 29 of 55 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Henry Cejudo | 0 | 31 of 53 | 58% | 31 of 53 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:02 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 26 of 29 | 89% | 45 of 48 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 0 | 0 | 1:30 |
| Henry Cejudo | 0 | 15 of 29 | 51% | 38 of 53 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:43 | |
| 4 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 36 of 52 | 69% | 52 of 68 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:38 |
| Henry Cejudo | 0 | 19 of 33 | 57% | 24 of 38 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:46 | |
| 5 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 24 of 40 | 60% | 31 of 47 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:15 |
| Henry Cejudo | 0 | 27 of 41 | 65% | 35 of 49 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:48 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 135 of 210 | 64% | 51 of 112 | 50 of 60 | 34 of 38 | 103 of 174 | 24 of 28 | 8 of 8 |
| Henry Cejudo | 99 of 174 | 56% | 35 of 99 | 30 of 37 | 34 of 38 | 82 of 152 | 16 of 21 | 1 of 1 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 20 of 34 | 58% | 5 of 15 | 10 of 12 | 5 of 7 | 12 of 25 | 3 of 4 | 5 of 5 |
| Henry Cejudo | 7 of 18 | 38% | 3 of 13 | 1 of 1 | 3 of 4 | 7 of 16 | 0 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 29 of 55 | 52% | 10 of 33 | 11 of 14 | 8 of 8 | 28 of 53 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Henry Cejudo | 31 of 53 | 58% | 10 of 26 | 7 of 11 | 14 of 16 | 29 of 51 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 26 of 29 | 89% | 12 of 15 | 11 of 11 | 3 of 3 | 17 of 20 | 7 of 7 | 2 of 2 |
| Henry Cejudo | 15 of 29 | 51% | 7 of 19 | 5 of 6 | 3 of 4 | 10 of 23 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 1 | |
| 4 | Aljamain Sterling | 36 of 52 | 69% | 11 of 25 | 13 of 14 | 12 of 13 | 27 of 42 | 8 of 9 | 1 of 1 |
| Henry Cejudo | 19 of 33 | 57% | 7 of 20 | 5 of 6 | 7 of 7 | 16 of 30 | 3 of 3 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Aljamain Sterling | 24 of 40 | 60% | 13 of 24 | 5 of 9 | 6 of 7 | 19 of 34 | 5 of 6 | 0 of 0 |
| Henry Cejudo | 27 of 41 | 65% | 8 of 21 | 12 of 13 | 7 of 7 | 20 of 32 | 7 of 9 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Cejudo (-115), Sterling (-105)
Round 1
This one is for all the marbles, and a fair amount of divisional glory as well. Sterling (22-3, 14-3 UFC) will be trying to set the UFC bantamweight record by notching his third successful title defense, while Cejudo (16-2, 10-2 UFC) would like nothing more than to get his old belt back. The winner of this pairing will elevate themselves in the all-time rankings at bantamweight, and they will have 25 minutes to figure it out. Like the legion of fans in the Prudential Center, referee Herb Dean is excited for how this one will play out. The fighters share a stern glove touch, and let the games begin. Sterling comes out aggressively, and he leads the dance with an early head kick. They clash shins at the same time, and Sterling recovers and kicks the leg. Cejudo ignores a few low kicks and backs away when Sterling leaps at him with a flying knee. Cejudo dodges a body kick, and he counters with a right hand. Sterling stalks him down and reaches out with a swatting right up high and left to the body. Cejudo tries to catch leg, and he elects to snatch up a body lock and easily take the champ to the mat. Sterling sits up against the wall, and Cejudo holds on in half guard until Sterling sets up butterfly hooks. Cejudo drops down to grab hold of a guillotine choke with Sterling on his knees, and Sterling breaks the grip but is holding Sterling’s head down. Sterling explodes to his feet, and he eats a leg kick and a right hand on the way. Sterling loads up with a body kick, and Cejudo catches it and whiffs with a huge right hand. Sterling snipes him with his superior range, and Cejudo pushes forward into a clinch. Sterling considers a level change, and Cejudo staves it off and again presses on the back of Sterling’s neck to keep him low. They stand up, and Sterling hunts for a single-leg with Cejudo against the cage. The crowd opens up with chants for “Henry” despite Sterling the fighter from the area, and Sterling manages to take that energy and muscle the ex-champ down to his knees. Sterling cannot keep him down or take his back, and he slams a few knees to the side before Cejudo stands. Sterling hits a mat return, and he snatches up back control and gets one hook in. Cejudo looks to break up the leg wrap, and Sterling knees his man in the thigh a few times and swings with a huge punch right before the bell sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Round 2
Cejudo starts off the second frame with a calf kick, and Sterling greets him with sharp jab and a body kick. Sterling jumps with a switch kick that lands on the shoulder, and Cejudo is still trying to find his distance. Cejudo connects with a calf kick, and Sterling shoots in on him. Sterling shoulder rolls a few punches, and he sticks Cejudo with a straight left. They trade low kicks, and Sterling catches a kick only to get caught with an uppercut to let it go. Cejudo presses the action and shocks Sterling with a head kick, and the champion reels and reaches out with a right hook. Sterling pushes out a front kick, turns to dodge a head kick, and he intercepts Cejudo with a knee to the guts. Sterling surprises his foe with a left hook when faking with a front kick, and he throws kicks to all targets to fluster the ex-flyweight. Sterling shoots in for a takedown, and Cejudo stops it in its tracks with ease. Sterling gets in a left hand, and when Cejudo counters, Sterling is there to catch him with a strike and be out of harm’s way in time. Cejudo puts some mustard into an overhand right, and Sterling jukes and keeps moving. “Funk Master” retains his awkward movement and strange angles, and this allows him to take most of the steam out of the heavy strikes Cejudo throws. Cejudo backs his man up with a straight right to the pectorals, and Sterling spins him around with a calf kick. Cejudo walks into a left hand, and he tries to hop forward with a hook only to get backed off. Sterling quickly spins with an elbow, and Cejudo looks for answers and loads up on a power right. When Sterling ducks away, Cejudo nearly dislodges his dome with a head kick. Sterling slides away and gets a straight left out, and he keeps a high guard to blow what comes back immediately. Sterling digs a punch to the body, and Cejudo replies with a few punches up top. Sterling kicks the side, and Cejudo looks for a takedown only to get shut down. Cejudo wings a monster right hand, and Sterling brushes past it and looks to trip Cejudo down. The wild scramble allows Cejudo to land on top, but the round ends before anything comes from it.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Round 3
Cejudo practically comes out sprinting from his corner, and the two engage in a series of leg kicks. Cejudo breaks this up with one to the ribcage, and Sterling ducks down with a jab. Cejudo times a perfect flying knee that skims off the top of the head, and Sterling drops down to shoot in for a takedown. Cejudo sprawls perfectly and is pushed down to the floor, with no submission or anything from Cejudo. “The Messenger” lets him back up, and Sterling thanks him with a big right hand. Sterling shoots for another takedown, and this time, Cejudo makes him pay for this try with a stern knee. Sterling pursues another from a different angle, and Cejudo defends it and turns his foe around to push him to the fence. Sterling gets off a short knee while they jockey for position, and Sterling trips out a leg and drops Cejudo to the floor. Sterling sneaks his right leg in for a potential hook, and Cejudo hangs onto Sterling’s left arm but cannot keep the gold medalist grounded. Sterling lets him up so that he can smash Cejudo in the face with a clean knee, and he aims one more to the body. Sterling looks for another takedown entry, and Cejudo tosses him out of the way. Sterling lands a left, and Cejudo replies with a right and sprawls to stop a naked takedown. Cejudo nearly circles around to the side, and Sterling answers by switching up for a single. Cejudo keeps his chest pressed on the back of Sterling’s head to stop the takedown from getting anywhere, and he hammers Sterling with a punch before waving Sterling back up. Sterling obliges and they trade body kicks. Sterling fires off a one-two into a level change, and Cejudo stops it but absorbs a pair of flush knees to the torso. Cejudo hits a trip, plopping Sterling on his back with seconds to spare, and he rides out the remainder of the round in the guard.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cejudo
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cejudo
Round 4
The championship rounds are upon them, and Sterling scores a few low kicks to start them off. Sterling swings a left hand, and Cejudo answers with a leg kick. The champ measures a kick to the side, and he loads up with another. Cejudo tries to fire back a low kick, and Sterling strikes the same spot and then has one calf kick checked. Cejudo blocks one and lunges forward, with a right hand connecting before Sterling is able to escape. Sterling sits down on a leg kick, and he follows with a right hand. Cejudo steps in with a knee and two punches, and these two are striking tit-for-tat one after the other. Sterling stings the calf with a shin, prompting Cejudo to charge at him with his fists out to clinch up. Cejudo cannot keep him tied up, and he tosses him away and catches a kick to release a left hand over the top. Sterling sticks out a jab and fails for a takedown, and he nails the calf with another kick. Sterling snaps the head back courtesy of a sharp jab, and Cejudo walks through a kick on his calf to consider a takedown. Sterling breaks free and aims a punch high and a kick low. Cejudo fakes a takedown and walks Sterling down to smack him with a shovel uppercut, and Sterling knees him in the liver. Cejudo grabs the raised leg but cannot elevate him, and Sterling turns the corner and knees his foe in the body. Cejudo whips Sterling around and uses a head lock to drag Sterling to the mat. Sterling pushes through to attack a double, and Cejudo does a whole split but cannot stop Sterling from taking him down. Sterling laces up the leg and lands a few right hands, and Cejudo bursts back up and gets slugged in the chops before the horn blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sterling
Round 5
Sterling points at the ground and says “Let’s go” to start off the last round, and the bantamweights meet in the middle of the cage for five more minutes of combat. Cejudo charges, ignoring a leg kick and launching one up high off the shoulder. Sterling slaps another calf kick to the swollen leg of his opponent, and Cejudo blocks one to his liver to follow. Sterling circles on the outside to avoid the looping strikes of his opponent, and Cejudo steps in with a solid body kick. Sterling gives two right back, and he whiffs on a big right hand. Cejudo charges recklessly, face-first into a right hand, but he pays it no mind as he strikes the side with his shin. Cejudo is pressuring aggressively, and Sterling backs him away with a few punches and a high kick. Cejudo scores a right hand as he comes in, and the fans rain down cheers for “Henry” again. Sterling spins with a back kick as Cejudo is kicking low, breaking up this attack. Cejudo stuns the champ with a left hand, and Sterling blinks it out and fights off a single. Cejudo lets it go and cracks Sterling with a right hand and follows it with a leg kick. Sterling reaches out with a right that misses the mark, and he boots the liver as Cejudo takes a look at the clock. Sterling slips a punch and sticks a straight left out, and Cejudo absorbs a calf kick and stuffs a takedown. Cejudo knees the body a few times and looks to follow it with an uppercut, and Sterling rolls with a punch and gets tied up. Sterling backs away from the advancing Cejudo, who grabs hold of a single and lifts Sterling’s leg in the air. Sterling topples down to his seat, but he powers right back up to his feet with Cejudo holding on from behind. Sterling tries to break the grip, and he spins around to get tied up. Cejudo lets go with clinch punches and knees, and the fight has reached its conclusion. It might go either way, possibly depending on the scoring of the second round. In victory, Sterling becomes the first bantamweight champion in UFC history to record three consecutive title defenses. One of the most underappreciated champs in the company is received by a series of boos, but Sterling lets it slide off like water off a duck’s back.
The defending champ calls out Sean O’Malley for his next challenge, and O’Malley enters the cage wearing a jacket reminiscent of “Thriller” by Michael Jackson. O’Malley steps right up to Sterling’s face and constantly repeats the line “you better do better than that.” UFC head Dana White gets between them, and Sterling calls for O’Malley to be removed from his cage. O’Malley approaches Sterling’s teammate, Merab Dvalishvili, who grabs his jacket, puts it on himself and runs away. Sterling is ready to go help out his teammate should a skirmish break out, with O’Malley hurling expletives and middle fingers until his red coat is returned. The security prevents anything bad from arising, and Sterling takes the mic again and tells O’Malley that they will fight in September. After this cools down, Cejudo is given the microphone, and he removes his gloves. Cejudo expresses his disappointment for the close fight, but holds no ill will towards the man that defeated him. Quoting “Talladega Nights,” Cejudo states that “If I’m not first, I’m last” and says this might be the last time he competes. If he fights again, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Cejudo (49-46 Sterling)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Cejudo (48-47 Sterling)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Cejudo (48-47 Sterling)
The Official Result
Aljamain Sterling def. Henry Cejudo via Split Decision (47-48, 48-47, 48-47)
Angelo picks Aljamain Sterling despite acknowledging asterisks on his title wins (illegal knee, split decision, TJ Dillashaw with one arm). He believes Sterling's size and activity will be decisive, as Sterling is a weight bully and has been fighting consistently while Cejudo returns after three years. Angelo is rooting for Cejudo but thinks the layoff and cardio questions are too much to overcome. He notes Cejudo's Olympic wrestling credentials but doubts he can take down the much larger Sterling.
Big Brady picks Sterling due to activity, youth, volume, and size advantages. He notes Cejudo's three-year layoff is a major concern, especially at lower weight classes. He acknowledges that if prime Cejudo shows up, he should win, but he's not confident in that. He mentions Sterling's reach and height advantages and that Sterling is in his prime training with Merab Dvalishvili. He says this is his least confident pick on the card and he's likely not betting it.
Cody acknowledges the massive question marks around Henry Cejudo's three-year layoff and whether he can replicate his past success. He gives Sterling advantages in speed, striking, grappling, and recent experience, but notes that Cejudo's constant pressure could exploit Sterling's tendency to fade in later rounds. He suggests playing Sterling live after the first round for a better price rather than betting pre-fight, and only as a small play if nothing else on the card jumps out.
Connor leans toward Cejudo, citing raw speed as a major factor and noting that Cejudo is the fastest fighter Sterling has faced since Marlon Moraes. He believes Cejudo's pressure and willingness to take risks will be effective, and that Cejudo will land the bigger shots. Connor acknowledges the age and ring rust concerns but is willing to take that flyer.
The host believes Henry Cejudo's speed, explosiveness, and defensive grappling will be too much for Aljamain Sterling. He notes that Cejudo is difficult to take down and control, and his calf kicks and power punching could be key. He expects Cejudo to win by knockout in the third or fourth round, assuming he hasn't regressed too much from the layoff.
Paul agrees with Cody's reasoning, noting that while Cejudo could return like Jon Jones or GSP, the three-year layoff is a major unknown. He highlights Sterling's seven-inch reach advantage and massive speed advantage from training with Rob Font. He says it's 'algermane or pass' for him but doesn't feel he has an edge betting-wise, so he likely won't place a bet.
The Guru leans toward Sterling, citing Cejudo's three-year layoff and age (36) as major factors. He believes Sterling's reach and height advantages will allow him to pick at Cejudo from range with front kicks and jabs. He also notes that Cejudo's wrestling may be neutralized by Sterling's body triangle, which can burn rounds. However, he admits it's a 50-50 fight and hopes Cejudo wins for entertainment, showing low confidence.
Zane picks Sterling, noting that he always starts strong with a clear game plan and is underrated for his toughness and resilience. He highlights Sterling's high output, body work, and weapons like knees and uppercuts to counter shorter fighters. Zane acknowledges the risk of Sterling getting caught or fading late, but believes Sterling's grappling danger and ability to take Cejudo's back are key advantages.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 72 of 93 | 77% | 148 of 181 | 5 of 8 | 62% | 2 | 0 | 7:06 |
| T.J. Dillashaw | 0 | 8 of 26 | 30% | 13 of 31 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 30 of 45 | 66% | 80 of 103 | 3 of 4 | 75% | 1 | 0 | 4:20 |
| T.J. Dillashaw | 0 | 3 of 11 | 27% | 8 of 16 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 42 of 48 | 87% | 68 of 78 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 1 | 0 | 2:46 |
| T.J. Dillashaw | 0 | 5 of 15 | 33% | 5 of 15 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:03 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 72 of 93 | 77% | 56 of 75 | 13 of 15 | 3 of 3 | 17 of 30 | 2 of 4 | 53 of 59 |
| T.J. Dillashaw | 8 of 26 | 30% | 3 of 20 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 4 | 8 of 26 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 30 of 45 | 66% | 24 of 38 | 5 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 15 | 1 of 3 | 21 of 27 |
| T.J. Dillashaw | 3 of 11 | 27% | 0 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 42 of 48 | 87% | 32 of 37 | 8 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 9 of 15 | 1 of 1 | 32 of 32 |
| T.J. Dillashaw | 5 of 15 | 33% | 3 of 12 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 2 | 5 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sterling (-175), Dillashaw (+150)
Round 1
The co-main event kicks off under the watchful eye of referee Marc Goddard. They exchange kicks as Sterling changes stances. Tons of movement early on, and Sterling catches a kick which he uses to spin Dillashaw to the canvas. Sterling takes Dillashaw’s back for a moment, but they spin through and Sterling lands in half guard. Dillashaw appears to be in pain from something. Sterling moves to mount, then locks up a body triangle from the top. Dillashaw’s left arm or shoulder may be the problem. Sterling lands a couple of huge right hands from the top, then takes Dillashaw’s back. Sterling working for a choke, then gives it up to move back to mount. Dillashaw pops back up and scrambles, but Sterling is all over him, regaining back control. Under two minutes left and Sterling has Dillashaw in a body triangle from back mount. Sterling pelts the ex-champ with punches that curl around the front of Dillashaw’s face. Dillashaw escapes to his feet and his left arm is clearly compromised. Sterling drops for a takedown with 30 seconds left, driving Dillashaw to the fence. He peels Dillashaw away from the fence and dumps him on the canvas. Dillashaw pops back up right before the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-8 Sterling
John Brannigan scores the round: 10-8 Sterling
Tudor Leonte scores the round: 10-8 Sterling
Round 2
Dillashaw’s shoulder is popped back in between rounds, and they’re good to go for another round at least. Sterling throws low kicks to open the round as Dillashaw returns fire, mostly with his right hand. Sterling drops levels for an easy double-leg takedown in the middle of the Octagon. Sterling sets up in Dillashaw’s half-guard. Sterling tries to move to side control, dropping elbows as he does. Dillashaw drives back to his feet, but is ensnared in a D’Arce choke as he does. Dillashaw escapes the hold, and his arm is once again all the way out of the socket, hanging limply at his side. The champ seems unsure of what to do, but takes Dillashaw down again. Sterling moves to mount. Dillashaw turns his back and goes belly-down. Sterling smashes Dillashaw with a couple of brutal elbows, then several punches, and Dillashaw is doing next to nothing to defend himself. Ref Goddard steps in and mercifully calls a stop to the mauling.
The Official Result
Aljamain Sterling def. T.J. Dillashaw R2 3:44 via TKO (Punches)
Angelo picks T.J. Dillashaw, surprised he is an underdog. He questions how Sterling can take Dillashaw down, noting only two people have ever done it. He praises Dillashaw's pace, pressure, and toughness, referencing the Sandhagen fight. He has a moneyline bet on Dillashaw at +150.
Big Brady picks Dillashaw to win by decision, despite concerns about his age (36) and decline. He believes stylistically it's a great matchup for Dillashaw: his takedown defense (86%) and get-up game are elite, and Sterling has only 30% takedown accuracy. He expects Dillashaw's pressure and cardio to overwhelm Sterling in the later rounds, winning the third, fourth, and fifth.
Cody thinks Sterling is the superior fighter overall but believes Dillashaw is live as an underdog. He notes Sterling's cardio fades in later rounds, while Dillashaw historically excels in rounds 4 and 5. Cody points out that Dillashaw has excellent takedown defense and wrestling, and that Sterling's takedowns may not hold him down. He sees Dillashaw winning the striking exchanges and possibly capitalizing on Sterling's fatigue.
Connor picks Dillashaw because he believes Dillashaw's wrestling and grappling defense will neutralize Sterling's best weapons. He notes that Dillashaw has never been held down or submitted, and that Sterling tends to gas when he can't impose his grappling. He also points out that Dillashaw's pressure and ability to take easy targets will wear on Sterling, similar to how Munoz gave him trouble.
Daniel Levi leans toward Aljamain Sterling to defend his belt, but is not confident. He respects Sterling's back control and jiu-jitsu, noting that even Petr Yan couldn't escape his backpack. However, he questions Sterling's durability and cardio, thinking he can wilt in later rounds. Levi also notes that T.J. Dillashaw is 37, coming off an ACL tear and a long layoff, and is no longer in his prime. He thinks Sterling's youth and confidence in his strengths give him the edge, but he has no bet on this fight because he doesn't have a strong read.
Dillashaw has solid wrestling and takedown defense to keep the fight standing. He is the better striker and can counter Sterling's entries. Sterling's best path is grappling, but Dillashaw's movement and pivots make him hard to catch. Dillashaw by decision at +300 or moneyline at +150 are both appealing.
Paul struggles to get to Sterling at -175, acknowledging Sterling's talent but questioning whether his grappling will work on Dillashaw. He notes Dillashaw's takedown defense historically, and that Sterling may not be able to hold him down. Paul mentions Dillashaw's strong later rounds and volume striking. He is picking Dillashaw for the show but is unsure about betting, possibly looking at round props.
The MMA Guru picks Aljamain Sterling over T.J. Dillashaw by submission. He argues Sterling is underrated, citing his wins over Yan, Sandhagen, and Munoz. He believes Dillashaw gives up his back and that Sterling will hurt him on the feet before securing a rear-naked choke in the second round.
Zane also picks Dillashaw, citing that Dillashaw is a uniquely bad matchup for Sterling due to his ability to stuff takedowns and avoid submission. He notes that Sterling's path to victory is narrow and relies on early chaos, but Dillashaw's experience and durability make him the safer bet. He also mentions that Dillashaw's wrestling-heavy approach against Sandhagen shows he can adapt.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 62 of 110 | 56% | 91 of 143 | 2 of 22 | 9% | 0 | 0 | 8:31 |
| Petr Yan | 0 | 63 of 103 | 61% | 139 of 186 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 5:52 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 19 of 40 | 47% | 20 of 41 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Petr Yan | 0 | 13 of 26 | 50% | 13 of 26 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 17 of 29 | 58% | 42 of 55 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 3:50 |
| Petr Yan | 0 | 4 of 5 | 80% | 21 of 24 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 6 of 13 | 46% | 8 of 18 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 3:43 |
| Petr Yan | 0 | 8 of 15 | 53% | 20 of 27 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:07 | |
| 4 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 8 of 10 | 80% | 8 of 10 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Petr Yan | 0 | 18 of 25 | 72% | 48 of 57 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 3:51 | |
| 5 | Aljamain Sterling | 0 | 12 of 18 | 66% | 13 of 19 | 0 of 10 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:58 |
| Petr Yan | 0 | 20 of 32 | 62% | 37 of 52 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 1:54 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aljamain Sterling | 62 of 110 | 56% | 29 of 66 | 26 of 35 | 7 of 9 | 42 of 84 | 5 of 7 | 15 of 19 |
| Petr Yan | 63 of 103 | 61% | 32 of 71 | 17 of 18 | 14 of 14 | 46 of 80 | 8 of 11 | 9 of 12 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aljamain Sterling | 19 of 40 | 47% | 5 of 22 | 11 of 14 | 3 of 4 | 19 of 40 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Petr Yan | 13 of 26 | 50% | 7 of 20 | 4 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 12 of 25 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Aljamain Sterling | 17 of 29 | 58% | 14 of 20 | 1 of 6 | 2 of 3 | 3 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 18 |
| Petr Yan | 4 of 5 | 80% | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 2 | 3 of 4 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Aljamain Sterling | 6 of 13 | 46% | 2 of 8 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 11 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 |
| Petr Yan | 8 of 15 | 53% | 2 of 9 | 2 of 2 | 4 of 4 | 7 of 13 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Aljamain Sterling | 8 of 10 | 80% | 2 of 4 | 6 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 8 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Petr Yan | 18 of 25 | 72% | 10 of 17 | 4 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 9 of 13 | 4 of 5 | 5 of 7 | |
| 5 | Aljamain Sterling | 12 of 18 | 66% | 6 of 12 | 4 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 14 | 2 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Petr Yan | 20 of 32 | 62% | 12 of 23 | 6 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 15 of 25 | 1 of 2 | 4 of 5 |
Angelo picks Petr Yan by decision. He notes that Yan was winning the first fight and has better takedown defense (90%). He expects more of the same without the illegal knee, though he acknowledges Sterling's striking stats were close. He thinks Yan is safe for parlays.
Big Brady picks Petr Yan to win by fourth-round knockout. He references the first fight where Yan was winning before the illegal knee, and expects a similar pattern: Yan starts slow, builds into the fight, and takes over in later rounds. Yan's wrestling, cardio, and finishing ability are superior. Sterling may have a better game plan but Yan is the better five-round fighter.
Cody picks Yan but is worried about a potential upset. He thinks Sterling needs to fight an ultra-conservative game plan of jabbing and kicking, using the big octagon to avoid Yan's power. Cody notes Sterling's neck surgery and layoff, while Yan is active and experienced. He considers a draw possible if Sterling wins three rounds but gets 10-8'd in one. Ultimately, he sticks with Yan but with reservations.
Levi considers Yan the undisputed champion and a master of adjustments. He criticizes Sterling's durability and cardio, noting that Yan's pressure and reads will lead to a faster start this time. He expects Yan to crowd Sterling, negate his unorthodox kicks, and eventually finish by TKO. He has parlayed Yan with Ian Garry.
I think Yan gets stronger as the fight goes on and will find Sterling's chin. Sterling doesn't have the cardio to implement a 15-20 minute game plan. Yan will finish him late. I like Yan round 4/5/decision at -180 on FanDuel. The line is skewed due to public perception of Sterling.
Paul picks Yan, citing Yan's ability to calculate opponents and improve as the fight goes on, plus having four rounds of data from the first fight. He notes Sterling's wrestling was only 1 of 12 on takedowns and that he couldn't keep the pace for five rounds. Paul thinks Yan starts better this time and wins, though he doesn't love the -490 price.
The MMA Guru picks Petr Yan by decision, expecting a close fight. He thinks Sterling will win the first two rounds but Yan will edge the later rounds, winning 48-47. He criticizes Sterling's reaction to the illegal knee and notes Yan's toughness and strength. He believes Sterling will be more reserved, giving Yan time to figure him out.
Cory Sandhagen - Fight History
AJ picks Sandhagen by decision in a competitive three-round affair, noting Bautista is tough but Sandhagen is too much. He wishes it were five rounds.
AJ picks Cory Sandhagen to win a decision in a competitive fight with Mario Bautista. He mentions Sandhagen by decision at plus 180 as a prop, indicating he sees it as a likely outcome but not a finish.
AJ picks Cory Sandhagen by decision, highlighting his elite long-range striking, footwork, and improved wrestling. He believes Sandhagen's precision and ability to create space will neutralize Bautista's pressure and clinch game. He expects a hard-fought three-round fight with Sandhagen doing more damage and avoiding takedowns.
AJ picks Cory Sandhagen to win a decision, citing his crafty striking, dynamic weapons, and superior submission grappling. He believes Sandhagen's footwork and distance management will give Bautista trouble, and that Bautista's volume-based style won't be enough to outwork Sandhagen. AJ also notes that Sandhagen has fought better competition and has a clear edge in the grappling exchanges.
AJ thinks Sandhagen most likely wins by decision, noting that Sandhagen decision at +190 makes sense. He acknowledges the possibility of a submission again but leans toward a decision win. He mentions the fight is expected to go over 2.5 rounds and that the distance is likely.
AJ leans toward Cory Sandhagen, believing his getup game is superior and that he won't be on his back long. He thinks Sandhagen will mix it up striking and take two out of three rounds. AJ also mentions the fight going over 2.5 rounds.
Angelo thinks Mario has improved more than Cory over the years, becoming the cleaner boxer and better wrestler. He notes Cory's awkwardness could trouble Mario but believes Mario's scrambles and overall evolution give him the edge. He placed a quarter unit on Mario at +125.
Angelo picks Mario Bautista because he believes Bautista is the better overall wrestler with incredible scrambles, and has leveled up significantly since their first fight. He notes that Sandhagen's losses are to wrestlers and Bautista is the better wrestler. He thinks Bautista will wrestle and control the fight, and that Sandhagen's striking advantage may not be enough.
Big Brady passes on this fight entirely. He acknowledges Bautista as a live dog but lacks confidence to bet, expecting a close decision that could go to the judges. He does not make a pick.
Big Brady does not have a clear pick for this fight. He calls it a close, high-level bantamweight fight that he doesn't plan to bet on. He notes Sandhagen has better volume and tools on the feet, while Bautista has more power and can win minutes in the clinch and on the mat. He expects a split decision and sees value on Bautista at plus money, but is not committing.
Big Brady picks Mario Bautista to win by split decision. He acknowledges Sandhagen's striking advantage but notes Bautista's improved grappling and Sandhagen's poor takedown defense. He thinks Bautista can mix in takedowns and control the fight. He calls it an extremely close fight and doesn't have a strong read.
Cody picks Cory Sandhagen, highlighting his superior striking, scrambling ability, and takedown defense. He notes Sandhagen's success against elite wrestlers like Umar Nurmagomedov and Moraes, and believes Bautista's wrestling is not at that level. He expects Sandhagen to edge out a decision.
Daniel Levi picks Mario Bautista to upset Cory Sandhagen, citing Sandhagen's tendency to choke in big fights and his recent title fight loss. He notes that Bautista is hungry, coming off a career-best performance, and has a competitive history with Sandhagen. Levi expects a close fight that could go either way, but leans toward the underdog.
Jacob picks Cory Sandhagen because he believes the fight will be mostly striking and Sandhagen rarely loses striking matches. He notes that Sandhagen is more active and lands more strikes, and that Bautista's wrestling may not be enough to overcome Sandhagen's movement and volume. He thinks Sandhagen will outpoint Bautista to a decision win.
Lucrative James picks Mario Bautista via decision, citing Bautista's improved boxing, cage control, and career trajectory. He sees it as a 50/50 fight but favors Bautista as the underdog due to Sandhagen's recent chin issues and Bautista's superior training environment at MMA Lab. He notes Sandhagen's slight edge in kicks and submissions but believes Bautista's advantages in close rounds will be decisive.
The host believes Bautista's improvements in physicality, defensive grappling, and clinch work will allow him to make the fight ugly and grind out a decision win. He thinks Bautista can replicate the style he used against Aldo to neutralize Sandhagen's unorthodox striking.
The host acknowledges Sandhagen won the first meeting via first-round armbar in 2019, but expects Bautista's improvements and physical confidence to help him muzzle Sandhagen, push him against the cage, and edge out a decision.
Paul picks Sandhagen but is torn, acknowledging both fighters have improved. He sees Sandhagen's volume as the key but respects Bautista's growth. He prefers to watch live and possibly bet in-play.
The MMA Guru picks Mario Bautista to win. He is frustrated with Cory Sandhagen, calling him a nerd and stating he is done with him. He believes Bautista will mix in grappling and be the aggressor, which will sway judges. He notes that Sandhagen often lets fights get away from him when the opponent is the lead.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merab Dvalishvili | 0 | 114 of 265 | 43% | 243 of 399 | 20 of 37 | 54% | 0 | 0 | 10:02 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 80 of 184 | 43% | 149 of 257 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merab Dvalishvili | 0 | 11 of 46 | 23% | 32 of 67 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:52 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 27 of 53 | 50% | 58 of 85 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 2 | Merab Dvalishvili | 0 | 33 of 49 | 67% | 73 of 92 | 8 of 13 | 61% | 0 | 0 | 3:43 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 2 of 9 | 22% | 23 of 32 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Merab Dvalishvili | 0 | 15 of 48 | 31% | 46 of 80 | 3 of 8 | 37% | 0 | 0 | 1:57 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 14 of 35 | 40% | 24 of 45 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 4 | Merab Dvalishvili | 0 | 21 of 56 | 37% | 31 of 66 | 2 of 4 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:26 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 19 of 43 | 44% | 21 of 46 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 5 | Merab Dvalishvili | 0 | 34 of 66 | 51% | 61 of 94 | 6 of 8 | 75% | 0 | 0 | 2:04 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 18 of 44 | 40% | 23 of 49 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Merab Dvalishvili | 114 of 265 | 43% | 86 of 231 | 13 of 18 | 15 of 16 | 79 of 220 | 22 of 27 | 13 of 18 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 80 of 184 | 43% | 46 of 143 | 18 of 23 | 16 of 18 | 80 of 184 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Merab Dvalishvili | 11 of 46 | 23% | 9 of 42 | 0 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 45 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 27 of 53 | 50% | 14 of 39 | 4 of 4 | 9 of 10 | 27 of 53 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Merab Dvalishvili | 33 of 49 | 67% | 33 of 49 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 16 of 25 | 8 of 10 | 9 of 14 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 2 of 9 | 22% | 1 of 6 | 0 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 9 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Merab Dvalishvili | 15 of 48 | 31% | 12 of 44 | 1 of 2 | 2 of 2 | 13 of 45 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 14 of 35 | 40% | 7 of 28 | 4 of 4 | 3 of 3 | 14 of 35 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Merab Dvalishvili | 21 of 56 | 37% | 9 of 42 | 5 of 6 | 7 of 8 | 17 of 52 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 19 of 43 | 44% | 12 of 34 | 4 of 5 | 3 of 4 | 19 of 43 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Merab Dvalishvili | 34 of 66 | 51% | 23 of 54 | 7 of 8 | 4 of 4 | 23 of 53 | 7 of 9 | 4 of 4 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 18 of 44 | 40% | 12 of 36 | 6 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 18 of 44 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Dvalishvili (-375), Sandhagen (+295)
Round 1
On his current run, 12 different men have tried to defeat Dvalishvili (20-4, 13-2 UFC), with Sean O’Malley undeservedly getting a second bite at the apple only to get submitted in the rematch. One of those names is not Sandhagen (18-5, 11-4 UFC), who is fresh as a daisy and ready to pull off the upset. The bantamweight throne is up for grabs in this one, and referee Marc Goddard brings the two to the center of the cage to issue particulars and get them to touch gloves. There is no ill will between them, so a glove touch is in order.
Sandhagen starts pushing the pace behind a jab, and a low kick gets in before Dvalishvili can fire back. Dvalishvili pump-fakes his way in, and Sandhagen chew up his front leg and pops the champ with a left hand on the way out. When Dvalishvili charges, Sandhagen beats him to the punch and slaps a low kick off the calf. Dvalishvili walks face-first into a left hook, and Sandhagen follows it with two more punches and a calf kick. “Sandman” parries punches and is ready for a takedown shot, stonewalling the beltholder and pushing him back. Dvalishvili sticks out a punch but absorbs an uppercut when backpedaling, and Sandhagen throws low while Dvalishvili goes high. Dvalishvili drops down in pursuit of a single, and when Sandhagen defends the first try, the Georgian switches to a body lock and a trip. Dvalishvili muscles the challenger around but cannot get Sandhagen down on repeated attempts.
Sandhagen plants knees to the body while Dvalishvili is attacking a takedown, and Dvalishvili gets Sandhagen down. The challenger does not seem concerned, as he posts off and stands up without taking much damage going up or down. Sandhagen backs Dvalishvili up and lines up a straight right hand down the pipe, and he chains a few punches into a low kick. Sandhagen scores and evades the counter, keeping to his preferred range at the tail end of a right hand. Dvalishvili tries to bite down on the mouthpiece and trade, but he quickly transitions to a clinch and body lock. Three left hands from Dvalishvili get in before he has to break off, and Dvalishvili stalks him down but eats a jab and part of a step-in knee. Sandhagen sticks and moves, skirting away from everything but a reaching left. Sandhagen strings together combos until the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Dvalishvili
Round 2
To start off the round, Dvalishvili loops in a pair of short hooks, opening a cut on the side of the bridge of Sandhagen’s nose. Dvalishvili surges his way into a takedown shot, and he lifts Sandhagen’s leg up in the air but cannot put him down. The frame of Sandhagen keeps him a gangly mess of limbs and fists, and Dvalishvili drags him down for a moment. Sandhagen forces his way up and out, and he works the body and pitches a kick up high. Sandhagen dips in to land a single left hook, and Dvalishvili barely reaches him with one and then gets four back on him. Sandhagen counters with a knee, and Dvalishvili explodes. Without concern for his safety or well-being, Dvalishvili goes for broke, assaulting the challenger with a flurry of fists and feet and hurt him badly.
Sandhagen stays afloat, somehow surviving after taking serious damage, with Dvalishvili stuck to him like a bad penny. Dvalishvili drags him down, and when Sandhagen stands, the Georgian hits a smooth sacrifice takedown where he stomps on the back of Sandhagen’s heels and drags him down. As Dvalishvili is in the driver’s seat, he starts turning Sandhagen into a takedown dummy. While Sandhagen manages to get off the ground quickly when placed there, Dvalishvili gets him down a little longer each time. “The Machine” hurls Sandhagen to his back, and Sandhagen uses his long legs to try for a high guard to protect him. Dvalishvili laughs it off and smacks Sandhagen around, and Sandhagen gets to his seat and up but Dvalishvili is still hanging on from behind. Dvalishvili goes from double to single, and he lets them all go to dance back to his corner before the horn blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-8 Dvalishvili
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-8 Dvalishvili
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-8 Dvalishvili
Round 3
Some referees may have stopped it in the second round when Dvalishvili was beating on his opponent, but Goddard rightfully let it carry on. Sandhagen thanks him for this by coming out of his corner alert and energized, where he commences his offense with long jabs and distance kicks. Dvalishvili tries to reach him with lunging strikes, and Sandhagen is out of range from most of them. Dvalishvili lands at the end of a reaching combo, and he shoots for a double and puts “Sandman” on his knees. Sandhagen powers back to his feet—a version of this will likely be typed a few dozen more times at this rate—and has Dvalishvili behind him keeping him miserable. Sandhagen spins and fights out of the tie-up, and he wings a right hand that is overswung and inaccurate. The American jabs to the body a few times, and Dvalishvili counters with an overhand right. Dvalishvili sits down in the pocket to trade hands, unafraid of the longer striker at this stage in the game. Sandhagen springs forward to jab, and Dvalishvili ducks down to snatch up a single. Turning the attempt to a double, Dvalishvili jams Sandhagen to the wall and against the wire. Sandhagen turns out and resets.
Dvalishvili slowly but methodically approaches the challenger, and he throws a head kick and quickly has to get his guard up to block one from Sandhagen. Dvalishvili lobs four punches, the latter two so he can close distance and go after a single. Sandhagen bounces off the floor back to his feet, and Dvalishvili tries not to let him go but Sandhagen frees himself. Sandhagen chases after the champ with hurled hooks, and he catches Dvalishvili coming in with a short left. Dvalishvili races after a single, and he strips Sandhagen’s footing away and follows him back upright when Sandhagen stands. Dvalishvili uses the leverage of a single to sling Sandhagen to the mat, and he lets Sandhagen up to further exhaust him. As Dvalishvili spams knees to the back of the thigh, he is grinning and laughing. The round wraps.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dvalishvili
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Dvalishvili
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Dvalishvili
Round 4
Sandhagen immediate starts the round with jabs outstretched. When Dvalishvili responds, Sandhagen gives him a few punches and a kick to think about. Dvalishvili meanders forward swinging his fists, and he is out of range from everything but a few calf kicks. Sandhagen kicks him back harder, and he drills the champ with a one-two. Dvalishvili catches Sandhagen’s leg out of the air and trips his other to put him down on his knees. Sandhagen wall-walks with the fence at his chest, and Dvalishvili holds him until deciding to try again from a different angle. Sandhagen lines up a left to the liver, and Dvalishvili swarms him with a pair of hooks. Dvalishvili tosses out a low, body and high kick, and he takes another liver shot on the way.
Sandhagen ducks a punch swing, but this only allows Dvalishvili to close in and try to clinch and trip him. “Sandman” gets out of it and reaches the champ with a left hand, and Dvalishvili ducks down for a single. Pushing Sandhagen to the wall, he wrestles Sandhagen down but Sandhagen pulls him with him. This results in a moment where both men just want to stand up, and they do so and reset in kickboxing range. Sandhagen hits a fade-back right hand with Dvalishvili coming at him, and he intercepts the champion with a sharp overhand right. Dvalishvili retaliates with an uppercut up the middle, and he catches Sandhagen upstairs while Sandhagen is flying high in the air with a knee. Sandhagen settles himself down and swats at “The Machine” with body shots. Dvalishvili responds with a one-two down the pipe, and he tosses Sandhagen to the mat on his face. Dvalishvili hangs on with a brabo choke grip, and when the round’s time expires, the two are playful towards one another and celebrating the successes of the other.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Dvalishvili
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Round 5
Scores could be all over the map, and the fighters are treating it as such as they begin the round trading leather. Sandhagen strikes first, and Dvalishvili spins him around and grabs him from behind to hurl him to the floor. Sandhagen uses the wall to stand, and he breaks off and flashes his jab. Dvalishvili intercepts a one-two, and he clips Sandhagen with a short right. Sandhagen ducks a hook and whiffs on his own left, and Dvalishvili use a standing hammerfist to set up a follow-up strike. Dvalishvili drags the challenger down to a knee, and he is unable to hold him there. Sandhagen breaks and spins for a back kick that knocks the champ into the wall, and when Dvalishvili bounces off, Sandhagen pops him in the chops with a left. Dvalishvili charges for a takedown and sells out for a sacrifice throw, using the awkward position to keep Sandhagen stuck. Sandhagen’s toes are hooked in the fence, to which Goddard warns him to stop doing, and they both fight back to their feet with two minutes to spare.
Sandhagen belts the champ with a left hand, tries a flying knee and catches him with a few more punches. Dvalishvili fires back with a vengeance, opening a cut on the side of Sandhagen’s left eye. When Sandhagen gets some work done, Dvalishvili stops him in his tracks with a double. For the first time in the fight, Dvalishvili has Sandhagen down and flat on his back. Sandhagen is quick to turn to his knees, and at the 30-second mark, he stands. Dvalishvili wrenches him right back down, and Sandhagen pops back up. Once more Dvalishvili gets him down, and Sandhagen explodes to his feet and unleashes a bomb of a left hand that hurts the champion badly. Dvalishvili keeps a stiff upper lip, but he is retreating with a funny look on his face, and Sandhagen elects of all final attacks to throw a spinning wheel kick that is nowhere near the mark. Dvalishvili dances away, and the fight ends. The takedown title in a UFC championship bout is almost certain Dvalishvili’s as he cruised past 100 in the Octagon to date. Even on arguably Sandhagen’s best day, it still does not appear to be enough to surpass “The Machine.” The conversation is still premature, but every victory for the Georgian puts him one step closer to becoming the greatest bantamweight in the sport’s history.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Dvalishvili (48-46 Dvalishvili)
Dayne Fox scores the round: 10-9 Dvalishvili (49-45 Dvalishvili)
Scottie Smith scores the round: 10-9 Dvalishvili (49-45 Dvalishvili)
The Official Result
Merab Dvalishvili def. Cory Sandhagen via Unanimous Decision (49-45, 49-45, 49-46)
Angelo picks Merab Dvalishvili, acknowledging that Cory Sandhagen is a tough matchup with good skills everywhere. He believes Merab's non-stop chain wrestling and cardio are his biggest weapons, and that Sandhagen is better than Sean O'Malley but still likely to lose. He notes that Sandhagen's cardio slowed against Umar, and that Merab's pressure will be overwhelming.
Big Brady thinks the fight will be competitive but clear in favor of Dvalishvili. He notes that Sandhagen has advantages in height, reach, and striking, but Dvalishvili's wrestling and ability to dictate where the fight takes place will be key. He expects Dvalishvili to win by decision, possibly 49-46 or 48-47. He does not like the line but is not picking against Dvalishvili.
Connor picks Dvalishvili, agreeing with Zane that Sandhagen's physicality is a major concern. He highlights that Sandhagen's best path is to pressure Merab and keep him on the back foot, but even then, Merab's wrestling and durability make it hard to win a decision. Connor also notes that Sandhagen lacks finishing power at the highest level, making it unlikely he stops Merab.
The host expects a classic Dvalishvili performance with takedowns and control time, possibly threatening submissions, but Sandhagen will be too slippery to catch, leading to a decision win for Dvalishvili.
The MMA Guru picks Merab Dvalishvili, citing his relentless pace, takedowns, and improving striking. He notes Cory Sandhagen's lack of finishing ability and tendency to leave fights close. He predicts a 49-46 or 48-47 decision.
Zane picks Dvalishvili because he believes Sandhagen lacks the physicality to consistently win scrambles and wrestling exchanges against Merab. He notes that Sandhagen has struggled against elite wrestlers like Umar Nurmagomedov and that Merab's endless cardio and improved striking make him a nightmare matchup. Zane also points out that even if Sandhagen has a good round or two, he is unlikely to finish Merab and will likely be worn down over five rounds.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 54 of 87 | 62% | 92 of 149 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 1 | 5:07 |
| Deiveson Figueiredo | 0 | 6 of 9 | 66% | 8 of 11 | 2 of 5 | 40% | 0 | 1 | 0:31 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 31 of 39 | 79% | 53 of 78 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:37 |
| Deiveson Figueiredo | 0 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 3 of 3 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:04 | |
| 2 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 23 of 48 | 47% | 39 of 71 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 1 | 1:30 |
| Deiveson Figueiredo | 0 | 4 of 7 | 57% | 5 of 8 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 1 | 0:27 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cory Sandhagen | 54 of 87 | 62% | 33 of 65 | 2 of 2 | 19 of 20 | 24 of 43 | 0 of 0 | 30 of 44 |
| Deiveson Figueiredo | 6 of 9 | 66% | 4 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cory Sandhagen | 31 of 39 | 79% | 22 of 30 | 1 of 1 | 8 of 8 | 10 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 21 of 26 |
| Deiveson Figueiredo | 2 of 2 | 100% | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Cory Sandhagen | 23 of 48 | 47% | 11 of 35 | 1 of 1 | 11 of 12 | 14 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 9 of 18 |
| Deiveson Figueiredo | 4 of 7 | 57% | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 3 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sandhagen (-500), Figueiredo (+380)
Round 1
The final bout to grace Wells Fargo Arena on this Saturday features Sandhagen, a longtime bantamweight contender who has picked up an impressive collection of scalps while not-so-patiently waiting his chance at UFC gold, against a man in Figueiredo who has already worn the flyweight version of that hardware twice, and hopes a win over “The Sandman” will allow him to skip the line at age 38. Overseeing this ultra-high stakes clash will be veteran referee Dan Miragliotta, who thankfully has shown no sign of the clapper-versus-horn confusion that plagued him at UFC Kansas City last week. Both contenders are in orthodox stance, and it is the taller Sandhagen who takes the front foot in the early going. Figueiredo scores with a calf kick, and Sandhagen clinches and moves his foe to the fence. They jockey for position there, punctuated by a few short strikes, before disengaging. Figueiredo lands a solid uppercut on the break. They move back to the center of the Octagon and Figueiredo lands another uppercut, then changes levels and pulls the action to the canvas. Figueiredo moves to Sandhagen’s back in a flash, and looks close to securing back mount before Sandhagen tripods and elevates his hips, trying to get the Brazilian to slide off the top. He succeeds, but Figueiredo tries to hop back onto his back and actually threatens to do so for a moment. He bails and Sandhagen lands on top. Figueiredo looks for a heel hook, but Sandhagen gets to a safe spot and smashes Figueiredo with hammerfists. Figueiredo gives up the leglock and scrambles to get up, but Sandhagen ends up on top again in half guard. Figueiredo again attacks a leg, and again Sandhagen crushes the space, gets his leg out of danger and punishes “Deus da Guerra” with some thudding ground-and-pound. The round ends with Sandhagen above Figueiredo, calmly looking for openings to punch.
Sherdog Scores
Ben Duffy scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Round 2
Sandhagen claims the center of the cage to open Round 2 and Figueiredo meets him there. They exchange low kicks that land and punching combinations that mostly glance or miss. Figueiredo changes levels for a slick single-leg, dragging Sandhagen to the floor. There, they briefly find themselves in a “leglock race” position that must have Ryan Hall shaking his head in Sandhagen’s corner. They return to their feet and moments later, it’s Sandhagen who times his man nicely for a level change, depositing the former flyweight champ on his rear and setting up in his guard. Sandhagen throws a salvo of punches with both hands, but loses top position a few moments later and ends up with Figueiredo standing over him out of half guard.
Sandhagen reaches for a leglock from the bottom and their legs become entwined as Sandhagen jumps back into his opponent’s guard. Sandhagen sweeps to top position and throws a couple of punches before it becomes apparent that Figueiredo is done fighting. Figueiredo taps in obvious pain as Miragliotta jumps in and waves off the fight. Replay shows that the entanglement of Sandhagen’s right leg and Figuereido’s left resulted in a knee injury to the Brazilian.
It surely isn’t how they drew it up in the gym, but as Sandhagen stands alone to have his hand raised while his stricken opponent is helped back to the locker rooms, he has made a solid case for at shot at the belt in his next fight.
The Official Result
Cory Sandhagen def. Deiveson Figueiredo R2 4:08 via TKO (Knee Injury)
Angelo is very confident in Cory Sandhagen, citing his superior striking, footwork, and durability. He believes Figueiredo's improved cardio and wrestling at bantamweight will not be enough to overcome Sandhagen's skills. He expects Sandhagen to win eight out of ten times and would bet if the odds drop to -300 or better.
Big Brady is confident in Cory Sandhagen, citing a rough matchup for Figueiredo. He notes that Figueiredo is undersized at bantamweight, his power hasn't translated, and he struggles with volume. Sandhagen has a great chin, cardio, and volume advantage, and will outland Figueiredo significantly. Figueiredo relies on moments, but Sandhagen is durable and hard to take down. Brady expects Sandhagen to pick Figueiredo apart over five rounds.
Connor agrees with Zane, emphasizing that Sandhagen can beat Figueiredo in every phase, including on the ground. He highlights Sandhagen's calmness in grappling positions, similar to Yan's ability to stall Figueiredo's back takes. Connor notes that Figueiredo's power is real but his speed is declining, and Sandhagen's size and durability make him a tough target. He calls it a straightforward pick but expects a competitive fight.
This is a perfect stylistic matchup for Sandhagen. Figueiredo may grapple early but can't keep it up for more than two rounds. Sandhagen's output, cardio, volume, and grappling will allow him to win at least three of the last four rounds and win a decision.
The MMA Guru picks Cory Sandhagen to win by TKO in round four, possibly due to a doctor stoppage from swelling. He believes Sandhagen's range, footwork, and jab will frustrate Figueiredo, who struggles with taller opponents. He compares it to Moreno's performance but expects Sandhagen to do more damage. He notes that Sandhagen has a good chin and can survive knockdowns. He thinks the odds are crazy and Sandhagen should be a -250 favorite.
Zane sees Sandhagen as a steady, adaptable technician who can fight well wherever the fight goes. He notes that Figueiredo's low output and reliance on singular moments of offense won't work against Sandhagen over five rounds. Zane also points out that Sandhagen's size and calm grappling defense will neutralize Figueiredo's takedowns, similar to how Yan handled them. He acknowledges Figueiredo's power but believes Sandhagen's consistency and volume will carry him to a decision win.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umar Nurmagomedov | 0 | 71 of 159 | 44% | 80 of 172 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 98 of 187 | 52% | 123 of 219 | 5 of 13 | 38% | 0 | 0 | 5:11 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Umar Nurmagomedov | 0 | 17 of 34 | 50% | 17 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 15 of 28 | 53% | 15 of 28 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 0:39 | |
| 2 | Umar Nurmagomedov | 0 | 16 of 32 | 50% | 20 of 36 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:12 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 24 of 42 | 57% | 24 of 42 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:55 | |
| 3 | Umar Nurmagomedov | 0 | 12 of 30 | 40% | 12 of 30 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 17 of 27 | 62% | 20 of 30 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:25 | |
| 4 | Umar Nurmagomedov | 0 | 20 of 53 | 37% | 20 of 53 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 30 of 65 | 46% | 32 of 67 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 0:36 | |
| 5 | Umar Nurmagomedov | 0 | 6 of 10 | 60% | 11 of 17 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 12 of 25 | 48% | 32 of 52 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:36 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Umar Nurmagomedov | 71 of 159 | 44% | 26 of 94 | 18 of 32 | 27 of 33 | 71 of 158 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 98 of 187 | 52% | 48 of 124 | 27 of 39 | 23 of 24 | 96 of 182 | 2 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Umar Nurmagomedov | 17 of 34 | 50% | 4 of 16 | 4 of 7 | 9 of 11 | 17 of 34 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 15 of 28 | 53% | 8 of 18 | 3 of 5 | 4 of 5 | 15 of 27 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Umar Nurmagomedov | 16 of 32 | 50% | 6 of 16 | 4 of 9 | 6 of 7 | 16 of 32 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 24 of 42 | 57% | 11 of 27 | 7 of 9 | 6 of 6 | 23 of 40 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Umar Nurmagomedov | 12 of 30 | 40% | 2 of 13 | 2 of 7 | 8 of 10 | 12 of 30 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 17 of 27 | 62% | 2 of 6 | 7 of 13 | 8 of 8 | 17 of 27 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Umar Nurmagomedov | 20 of 53 | 37% | 11 of 43 | 7 of 8 | 2 of 2 | 20 of 53 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 30 of 65 | 46% | 21 of 55 | 5 of 6 | 4 of 4 | 29 of 63 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Umar Nurmagomedov | 6 of 10 | 60% | 3 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 6 of 9 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 12 of 25 | 48% | 6 of 18 | 5 of 6 | 1 of 1 | 12 of 25 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Nurmagomedov (-305), Sandhagen (+245)
Round 1
When the dust settles and a maximum of 25 minutes elapses, a bantamweight title challenger will almost certainly emerge. Having never vied for the undisputed throne, Sandhagen (17-4, 10-3 UFC) wants to prove the naysayers wrong and hand Nurmagomedov (17-0, 5-0 UFC) his first pro defeat. While a large step up in competition for the Russian, bettors largely favor him to get his hand raised. Referee Marc Goddard will handle the particulars for the next five rounds or fewer, and he brings the two combatants to the center of the cage to formally touch gloves and initiate the proceedings. Sandhagen darts in and continually pulls back, keeping out of range of a head kick or two that comes at him. They trade leg kicks, and Nurmagomedov shoots in for a single. Dragging Sandhagen to the mat for a moment, Nurmagomedov manages to take the back but Sandhagen is able to wriggle away and get back to the middle of the cage. Nurmagomedov reaches him with a one-two, and Sandhagen kicks him hard on the lead leg. Nurmagomedov tries to catch it, and he abandons it to launch a head kick that bounces off the shoulder. Sandhagen scores a right hand and a low kick, and he reaches the midsection with a long right hand before bouncing away from a kick. Nurmagomedov attacks a single, and Sandhagen hops on the other leg and slashes with an elbow before fighting it off. Sandhagen wings a left hook that buzzes past his foe, and he hops forward with a jab. Sandhagen connects with a head kick, and the foot brushes the cup and Sandhagen stops to make sure Nurmagomedov is ok. He is. Leg kicks fly from both sides, with Sandhagen adding more and tripping Nurmagomedov up. Nurmagomedov falls on his side awkwardly, and he bounces back up while Sandhagen gives chase. Nurmagomedov counters a leg kick with a hard left over the top, and he eats a swiping left hook. Nurmagomedov strikes, slips and escapes, but Sandhagen follows him and hammers him with a kick on the calf. Nurmagomedov fakes an entry on a takedown, and he sticks his man, gets countered and lands a heavy leg kick. Front kicks from both men connect, and Sandhagen jumps forward with a switch kick that hits the body. Nurmagomedov ducks a punch and hits a takedown, allowing Sandhagen to scramble so he can take the back. They get tangled up like 135-pound pretzels, and Sandhagen smacks him with a few hammerfists until the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Round 2
Sandhagen strides out of his corner stopping before a front kick can reach him, but in range so that his front leg gets kicked. Sandhagen kicks him back and defends a single, sprawling effectively while pushing on the back of his foe’s head. Nurmagomedov turns the corner and grabs hold of Sandhagen from behind, and Sandhagen works his way to the fence to lean on it. Nurmagomedov knees him on the break, and when they reset, Sandhagen snaps his head to the side with a left hook. Nurmagomedov misses with a head kick and eats a jab, and he tries to reach the target with a one-two that comes up short. Sandhagen lands a thudding left hand and gets countered tossing out a leg kick with a left to the chest. Sandhagen jumps forward but pulls back from the knee as Nurmagomedov wants to catch him, and a volley of low kicks soon flies. Sandhagen chops down the front leg, prompting a stance switch, and Nurmagomedov lunges with a body shot. They take turns kicking one another in the calf and launching one-twos, and alternating kicks are released. Nurmagomedov slaps Sandhagen in the face with the instep of his foot, and Sandhagen does not register the blow and boots Nurmagomedov upside the head with his own kick. Sandhagen eats a right and responds with a left, and he jabs and tries to parry a front kick aimed at his nose. Sandhagen connects with a low kick, and the Russian is ready and willing to counter with a left over the top. The punches from Nurmagomedov have opened a cut on the eyebrow of his opponent, and Nurmagomedov attempts a takedown and manages to take Sandhagen to his seat. Nurmagomedov tries to take the back and is warned for grabbing inside the gloves, and he gets hold of Sandhagen’s back and locks down a brief crucifix. Nurmagomedov flirts with a choke for a second, but Sandhagen explodes to his feet and spins around. Nurmagomedov trips him to the floor, and Sandhagen gets up and lands a front kick before the horn sounds.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov
Round 3
Leading the dance again is Sandhagen, who makes the Russian back away courtesy of his measuring jab. Nurmagomedov slaps a kick beneath the armpit of his foe, and his front leg gets kicked in response. Nurmagomedov scores a calf kick, and Sandhagen switches stances and engages. The kicks from “The Sandman” are getting the attention of the unbeaten fighter, who is raising his leg preemptively when not trying to catch them. Nurmagomedov kicks the front leg and whiffs on a head kick, and Sandhagen kicks his foe’s raised limb. Nurmagomedov hammers another kick low, and he tries to check one flying back his direction. Sandhagen jabs his way in, but nothing follows it. Nurmagomedov brushes past the hair with a kick, and Sandhagen slams his shin on both sides. The two bantamweights remain at this snail’s pace for some time, both appearing to take the round off. Sandhagen kicks the calf and Nurmagomedov shoots for a takedown right after it, resulting in Sandhagen bouncing away and breaking the grip to escape. Leg kicks keep getting traded, and he blocks a body kick and pushes a front kick to the chest. Sandhagen jumps with a switch kick that lands to the body, and Nurmagomedov manages to kick him back to the side. Nurmagomedov jams a left hand to the breadbasket, and Sandhagen leaps into action with a punch and a kick. Nurmagomedov chases him around aiming body shots, and Sandhagen intercepts him with a knee. Nurmagomedov goes for a takedown, and as Sandhagen gives up his back to stand, Nurmagomedov gladly obliges to take it in the scramble, Sandhagen sits comfortably until the round ends.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov
Round 4
The championship rounds have been reached, and Sandhagen pushes the pace with several jabs and follow-up right hands. Nurmagomedov responds with a pair of high kicks, and both a get blocked. Nurmagomedov shovels a few uppercuts to the chin, and Sandhagen rushes after him with a short combination. Two hooks from Sandhagen miss the mark, and the third graces the chin. Sandhagen lands a clean left hook, and Nurmagomedov places two punches on the jaw. Sandhagen again scores his dipping hook, and then a third time. Nurmagomedov jabs and throws crosses, and Sandhagen reaches him at the end of a right hand. They are taking turns once again in engaging, and Sandhagen starts while Nurmagomedov ends these exchanges. Nurmagomedov lands a flush one-two, only to be met with a left from “The Sandman.” It cleanly catches his man again, prompting Nurmagomedov to string three punches back at him. Sandhagen hammers the body and is countered with a left hook, and he defends against a looping body shot. The Russian finds his home with a body kick, and Sandhagen clips him with an uppercut. They both trade heavy shots, and Nurmagomedov concludes the combo with a right before exiting. Sandhagen does wide with a high kick, and Nurmagomedov retaliates with a trio of fleet fists. Sandhagen scores a solid low kick, and he comes up just short with a front kick. Nurmagomedov ducks a punch to procure a takedown, and he succeeds in dragging Sandhagen to a knee from behind. Sandhagen rolls through and pushes off the fence, turning himself around but eating a few punches in the process. Sandhagen responds with his own double try before the horn blares.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov
Round 5
The first punch of the last round is scored by Sandhagen, with a left hook that he has find the last round or so. Sandhagen switches stances and delivers leg kicks, and he is shoved away by a front kick. Sandhagen chops down the lead wheel, and he blocks a body kick to lash out with a calf kick. Sandhagen shoots for a single, and he bails on it to go over the top with a left hook. Nurmagomedov shrugs it off and comes out swinging, with a right to the body and a missed right hook upstairs. Sandhagen goes after another single, with nothing on it. Sandhagen again tries a big overhand right, and Nurmagomedov is there to back him off with three crisp punches and a body kick. Sandhagen stands Nurmagomedov up with a right hand, but Nurmagomedov is quick to shake it off and coming back strong. Sandhagen dodges the front kick, and he is forced to defend a takedown attempt where the Russian takes him from behind and follows him while rolling. Sandhagen sets up a triangle choke when Nurmagomedov turns over to take top position, but Nurmagomedov works through it and establishes top control. Sandhagen looks to his corner for advice, and he rolls over to give his back up. Nurmagomedov gets a hook in and holds his leg over Sandhagen’s right arm, but Sandhagen’s scramble allows him to flip him around and attack a single. Nurmagomedov follows this roll with his own roll, and he sits on Sandhagen’s face before sliding around to establish half guard. Nurmagomedov clings to top position, cruising to a win while landing some occasional ground-and-pound. Nurmagomedov holds on, doing what he needs to do to get his hand raised. This is easily the biggest win in the career of the cousin of Khabib Nurmagomedov, who is now a perfect 18-0 and likely the next man in line to face the winner of Sean O’Malley vs. Merab Dvalishvili. No matter who that ends up being, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov (49-46 Nurmagomedov)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov (50-45 Nurmagomedov)
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Nurmagomedov (49-46 Nurmagomedov)
The Official Result
Umar Nurmagomedov def. Cory Sandhagen via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 49-46, 49-46)
Angelo picks Nurmagomedov because of his elite wrestling and chain takedowns. He notes Sandhagen has been taken down by everyone who tried, and despite being more well-rounded, he doesn't see Sandhagen defending the takedowns. He expects Nurmagomedov to cruise to a decision.
Big Brady believes Umar is a future champion and that this is a winnable stylistic matchup. He notes Sandhagen's takedown defense has improved but is still suspect, and Umar should have no problem taking the fight to the ground and controlling it. He predicts Umar wins by decision, acknowledging Sandhagen is being disrespected by the odds.
Cody picks Umar Nurmagomedov, citing his wrestling and top control as key advantages. He notes that Umar is a 28-year-old Russian talent with solid top pressure and positional soundness, though his wrestling isn't as dominant as Khabib's. Cody believes Umar will use takedowns to neutralize Sandhagen's striking and win a unanimous decision. He acknowledges the line is wide but trusts the Dagestani game plan.
Daniel is torn on this fight. He acknowledges Umar's undefeated record and the Dagestani mystique, especially in Abu Dhabi, but questions his level of competition. He notes Sandhagen's elite resume and improvements since the Yan loss, including increased takedown attempts. Ultimately, he reluctantly picks Umar due to the location and potential, but admits he has no clear read and considers it a dog or pass from a betting perspective.
Nurmagomedov's overall skill set will allow him to stay away from Sandhagen's unorthodox striking. He will eventually resort to wrestling, keeping Sandhagen on his back and grinding out a decision win.
Paul picks Umar Nurmagomedov, emphasizing his wrestling and the fact that Sandhagen has struggled against elite grapplers. He notes Sandhagen's takedown defense has improved but there are levels, and Umar's striking is also coming along. Paul expects Umar to mix in takedowns and control the fight, similar to what Belal Muhammad does. He mentions the line is wide but still sides with Umar.
The MMA Guru picks Umar Nurmagomedov over Cory Sandhagen, believing Sandhagen is too weak despite his technique. He thinks Umar's size and strength will allow him to hold Sandhagen down, especially in Abu Dhabi where standups are rare. He notes Sandhagen's lack of power and poor wrestling compared to Umar. He predicts a boring 49-46 decision for Umar.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 34 of 84 | 40% | 132 of 211 | 7 of 7 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 19:38 |
| Rob Font | 0 | 9 of 49 | 18% | 25 of 69 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:08 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 8 of 26 | 30% | 27 of 51 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:43 |
| Rob Font | 0 | 5 of 22 | 22% | 6 of 24 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:23 | |
| 2 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 7 of 15 | 46% | 38 of 54 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:41 |
| Rob Font | 0 | 0 of 7 | 0% | 4 of 12 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 10 of 24 | 41% | 27 of 48 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 3:43 |
| Rob Font | 0 | 4 of 10 | 40% | 4 of 11 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 4 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 6 of 11 | 54% | 29 of 39 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 4:41 |
| Rob Font | 0 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 2 of 7 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 5 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 3 of 8 | 37% | 11 of 19 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 1 | 0 | 3:50 |
| Rob Font | 0 | 0 of 6 | 0% | 9 of 15 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:45 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cory Sandhagen | 34 of 84 | 40% | 30 of 79 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 10 of 47 | 0 of 1 | 24 of 36 |
| Rob Font | 9 of 49 | 18% | 5 of 43 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 3 | 8 of 44 | 0 of 3 | 1 of 2 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cory Sandhagen | 8 of 26 | 30% | 6 of 23 | 1 of 2 | 1 of 1 | 5 of 19 | 0 of 1 | 3 of 6 |
| Rob Font | 5 of 22 | 22% | 2 of 18 | 1 of 1 | 2 of 3 | 4 of 17 | 0 of 3 | 1 of 2 | |
| 2 | Cory Sandhagen | 7 of 15 | 46% | 6 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 1 | 1 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 6 of 8 |
| Rob Font | 0 of 7 | 0% | 0 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 7 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Cory Sandhagen | 10 of 24 | 41% | 9 of 23 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 14 | 0 of 0 | 8 of 10 |
| Rob Font | 4 of 10 | 40% | 3 of 9 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 4 of 10 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Cory Sandhagen | 6 of 11 | 54% | 6 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 3 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 8 |
| Rob Font | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Cory Sandhagen | 3 of 8 | 37% | 3 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 4 | 0 of 0 | 2 of 4 |
| Rob Font | 0 of 6 | 0% | 0 of 5 | 0 of 1 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 6 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sandhagen (-330), Font (+240)
Round 1
Jason Herzog is the official for the night’s catchweight headliner. Sandhagen shoots for a takedown within 15 seconds and succeeds. Font grabs a guillotine, and Sandhagen tries to discourage it with some upward elbows. Sandhagen escapes, and now Font is threatening with a kimura. It works as hoped because he is able to sweep. Back standing, Sandhagen tags Font with a stiff straight shot. Font lands a jab and then an uppercut. Sandhagen lands a nicely-timed double-leg takedown. Font creates space and Sandhagen leaps in with a right as his foe attempts to stand. Font clings to a leg, but Sandhagen assumes top position. Sandhagen is in half guard now, landing some right hands to the side of the head. Font uses the butterfly guard to create some space, and he’s up. Font lands a leg kick but comes up short on a combination. Sandhagen throws a body kick, but Font catches it and shoves his man to the floor. Font works to the back and lands a knee to the body before Sandhagen stands at the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Round 2
Font pressures early with punches. Another quick takedown for the Elevation Fight Team product, and he moves to half guard. Sandhagen drives his forearm into Font’s face and lands a short elbow. Font looks to utilize the butterfly guard to create space, but Sandhagen floats above him. The Nashville crowd is getting restless with the grappling-heavy affair. Sandhagen maintains top position at the halfway mark of the round. Font is getting close, but he can’t quite execute the sweep. Sandhagen lands another short elbow. Sandhagen keeps Font’s leg hooked in half guard and continues to control the action from above. Sandhagen fires another short elbow at his foe’s head. Font is neutralizing the majority of Sandhagen’s offense from his back, but that’s about all he’s doing. Sandhagen drops another elbow before the end of the round as boos rain down at the horn.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Round 3
Font angles out and lands a glancing right hand. The fighters trade jabs. A right uppercut gets through for Font, and Sandhagen answers with a switch knee. Shortly thereafter, Sandhagen encounters little resistance on his takedown, drawing more boos from the Nashville fans. Sandhagen lands a couple shoulder strikes from above. He shoves Fonts head down and follows with a short elbow. Sandhagen continues to work from half guard. Font looks to isolate an arm for a sweep, but Sandhagen is able to free himself. Font nearly scrambles up but Sandhagen dives back into top position with some effective ground-and-pound. Sandhagen stays heavy and connects with an elbow. A hammerfist and an elbow land for Sandhagen. Font is finally able to get to his feet with 35 seconds left and Sandhagen launches a flying knee that lands on the chest. Font lands a right before the end of the frame.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Round 4
Font pressures with a combination early and Sandhagen threatens but misses the mark with a flying knee. The exchange is fleeting, however, as Sandhagen executes another takedown less than 30 seconds in. Font’s defensive grappling keeps him from getting hurt, but he’s not offering much of a threat to return to his feet. Sandhagen sneaks another elbow through. Sandhagen is heavy on top, though he isn’t finding much space to land offense. Font briefly scoots to a seated position, but Sandhagen pulls his legs back out. Heavy shoulder pressure from Sandhagen near the fence. Font sits up, posts an arm and threatens with a guillotine. The crowd chants for Jason Herzog to stand them up, but the veteran official isn’t taking the bait. Font is still fighting to stand, and he’s up, but only for a second as Sandhagen drags him right back down. As time winds down, Sandhagen lands a right and an elbow.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Round 5
It’s desperation time for Font, as it’s a shutout for Sandhagen to this point. Font pressures again with a frot kick and a left hook. Sandhagen answers with a striaght left and a front kick of his own. Font turns the tables and shoots for a takedown. Sandhagen defends against the fence, and Herzog calls for more action. Sandhagen is able to turn his man around, and he dumps Font on the mat once again. Font gets to a seated position, but Sandhagen powers him down. Now Sandhagen has a brabo choke locked in. Font rolls frantically to escape, but Sandhagen maintains his grip. Font recovers half guard and Sandhagen gives up on the maneuver. He continues to keep top position, and Font’s best efforts to scramble are still to no avail. Font moves his guard up in hopes of an armbar, but Sandhagen is in no real danger. He frees himself and ends the round on top. The crowd is not pleased, but it’s a very one-sided victory for Sandhagen.
Sherdog Scores
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen (50-45 Sandhagen)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen (50-45 Sandhagen)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen (50-45 Sandhagen)
The Official Result
Cory Sandhagen def. Rob Font via Unanimous Decision (50-45, 50-45, 50-45) R5 5:00
Angelo picks Cory Sandhagen, citing his active striking, fluid combinations, and solid BJJ. He notes that Rob Font is a gritty boxer with a solid chin but lacks power and is on the back nine of his career. Angelo believes Sandhagen will make it a true MMA fight by mixing in wrestling, and that the catchweight benefits Sandhagen as the larger fighter. He also points out that Font is stepping up on short notice and that Sandhagen dominated Chito Vera, who is more dangerous than Font.
Big Brady is very confident in Sandhagen, citing Rob Font's age (36), short notice, and accumulated damage from recent fights like the Marlon Vera beating where Font was dropped multiple times. He believes Sandhagen's diverse striking and submission threat will overwhelm Font, and that Font's durability has declined. He predicts Sandhagen will either dominate to a 50-43 decision or become the first to knock Font out, possibly with a head kick or knee.
Cody picks Sandhagen due to his blend of striking and takedowns, plus a full camp preparing for Umar Nurmagomedov. He notes Font's short notice and history of being dropped (five times in two fights) as vulnerabilities. Cody believes Sandhagen can mix in takedowns and strike effectively, though he acknowledges Font's elite striking and volume. He also mentions betting Sandhagen by knockout at +225.
Daniel Levi is confident in Cory Sandhagen, citing his evolution into a well-rounded fighter with improved wrestling and durability. He notes Sandhagen's killer resume and recent performances against Song Yadong and Chito Vera as evidence of his growth. Levi believes Sandhagen's fight IQ and length will be key, and that he will avoid trading in the pocket with Font's dangerous jab. He sees Sandhagen as a future title contender and expects him to shine in the main event.
James is very confident Sandhagen dominates. He thinks Sandhagen can do whatever he wants—strike, takedown, submit, or knock out Font. He believes Font's chin is done and predicts a knockout in the second or third round. He notes Sandhagen's dynamism and one-shot power.
Sandhagen has an unorthodox style that blends wrestling and striking, and he's made for five rounds. Font has a great comeback win over Yanez, but Sandhagen's style will be too unorthodox for Font to get going. Sandhagen eats damage well and counters effectively. The fight likely goes the distance, so over 4.5 rounds is my favorite prop, but Sandhagen gets his hand raised. The line is too wide to bet heavily, and there is value on Font at these odds.
Paul agrees with Cody, citing Sandhagen's full camp and wrestling advantage. He notes Font's short notice and chin issues, but expects a competitive fight if it goes the distance. Paul leans towards Sandhagen by knockout, though he respects both fighters.
The host picks Cory Sandhagen confidently, calling him a cerebral, diverse striker in his prime. He believes Sandhagen will pick Font apart with superior technique and defense. He notes Font is 36 and while dangerous, Sandhagen is a better mixed martial artist. He predicts a unanimous decision but does not rule out a head kick knockout. He recommends Sandhagen as a parlay piece and expects the line to rise.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 58 of 158 | 36% | 73 of 177 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:09 |
| Marlon Vera | 0 | 128 of 280 | 45% | 187 of 378 | 3 of 12 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 7:08 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 5 of 13 | 38% | 12 of 22 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Marlon Vera | 0 | 32 of 69 | 46% | 47 of 99 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 2:30 | |
| 2 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 6 of 15 | 40% | 9 of 18 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Marlon Vera | 0 | 18 of 29 | 62% | 55 of 84 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 2:50 | |
| 3 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 20 of 56 | 35% | 20 of 56 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Marlon Vera | 0 | 32 of 67 | 47% | 32 of 67 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:03 | |
| 4 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 13 of 38 | 34% | 13 of 38 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Marlon Vera | 0 | 24 of 67 | 35% | 24 of 67 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:08 | |
| 5 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 14 of 36 | 38% | 19 of 43 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:09 |
| Marlon Vera | 0 | 22 of 48 | 45% | 29 of 61 | 1 of 4 | 25% | 0 | 0 | 1:37 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cory Sandhagen | 58 of 158 | 36% | 28 of 105 | 13 of 29 | 17 of 24 | 53 of 152 | 5 of 5 | 0 of 1 |
| Marlon Vera | 128 of 280 | 45% | 84 of 226 | 16 of 23 | 28 of 31 | 107 of 241 | 2 of 3 | 19 of 36 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cory Sandhagen | 5 of 13 | 38% | 4 of 11 | 0 of 0 | 1 of 2 | 5 of 13 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Marlon Vera | 32 of 69 | 46% | 20 of 55 | 2 of 3 | 10 of 11 | 18 of 41 | 0 of 0 | 14 of 28 | |
| 2 | Cory Sandhagen | 6 of 15 | 40% | 4 of 10 | 0 of 2 | 2 of 3 | 6 of 15 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Marlon Vera | 18 of 29 | 62% | 14 of 24 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 13 of 22 | 0 of 0 | 5 of 7 | |
| 3 | Cory Sandhagen | 20 of 56 | 35% | 8 of 37 | 4 of 8 | 8 of 11 | 20 of 56 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Marlon Vera | 32 of 67 | 47% | 17 of 48 | 6 of 9 | 9 of 10 | 32 of 67 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Cory Sandhagen | 13 of 38 | 34% | 6 of 25 | 4 of 10 | 3 of 3 | 12 of 37 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 0 |
| Marlon Vera | 24 of 67 | 35% | 19 of 59 | 2 of 4 | 3 of 4 | 23 of 65 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Cory Sandhagen | 14 of 36 | 38% | 6 of 22 | 5 of 9 | 3 of 5 | 10 of 31 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 1 |
| Marlon Vera | 22 of 48 | 45% | 14 of 40 | 4 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 21 of 46 | 1 of 1 | 0 of 1 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sandhagen (-165), Vera (+140)
Round 1
The UFC knew what it was doing when it put this fight together, and made sure fans would appreciate it by moving it from the UFC Apex to an 18,000-seat arena in San Antonio. Bantamweight greatness looms, and Vera (20-7-1, 14-6 UFC) would like nothing more than to put Sandhagen (15-4, 8-3 UFC) away and possibly earn a crack at gold. “The Sandman” is no easy out, having never been stopped with strikes, so a back-and-forth, blood-and-guts battle may loom for the next 25 minutes. Referee Dan Miragliotta is in it for the long haul, and the fighters are ready to handle their business, electing to not bump fists before launching them at one another’s faces. Sandhagen leads off with several range-finding jabs and low kicks, and he punches into Vera’s raised hands. Sandhagen walks “Chito” down and kicks at his lead leg a few times, and Vera absorbs a one-two on the dome while holding off on retaliating. Sandhagen drives Vera back to the wall with a left, and Vera strings two jabs into a chipping kick. Sandhagen works low kicks into jabs, and Vera pushes forth a one-two when “Chito” chants echo throughout the building. Vera hand-fights as Sandhagen walks forward calmly, and he allows Sandhagen to score on him repeatedly. Sandhagen ducks a jab to loose a solid left hook, and Vera takes it on the chin and subsequently absorbs another. Sandhagen bears down on his man with a few punches and a head kick while Vera escapes, and Vera he swats away a few punches that zip at him. Sandhagen leaps at his foe with a jump knee, and Vera parries it and is forced to defend a takedown effort. Sandhagen smoothly trips Vera’s leg out and plants him on his seat, and he postures up and hammers Vera with punches and elbows. Vera closes his guard as he gets shoved to the wall with his neck trapped at the corner of the floor and the fence. Sandhagen pummels “Chito” with elbows, and Vera replies with a few on his back to split open a cut on the top of Sandhagen’s forehead. Sandhagen continues to bombard his downed adversary with elbows as Vera looks to kick him off, but the listless Vera blocks the majority of them and seems content to remain on his back. Sandhagen ends the round with several more pounding elbows.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Jack Dankoff scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Round 2
The bantamweights meet in the middle, and Sandhagen is the aggressor right out of the gate. They trade front kicks, and Vera is backed up to the wall as Sandhagen opens up with a right hand. Vera aims a punch to the body, and he front kicks and chops at Sandhagen’s lead calf a few times to slow him. Sandhagen blitzes with a few uppercuts, and he secures a single-leg takedown and puts “Chito” on his back. Vera defends with a guillotine choke before he even hits his seat, and he releases it without burning his arms out as Sandhagen steps over to half guard. Sandhagen starts to drop down left hands and elbows as Vera is pinned to the floor, and his top control is smothering and frustrating for the Ecuadorian. Vera turns to his side as he eats elbows, and Sandhagen allows him to do that so that he can posture up and drill him with punches. Vera hooks a foot beneath his elbow to flirt with a heel hook, and Sandhagen lowers himself down and takes side control on the side to continue his attack. Vera turns once more, nearly giving up his back as he attempts to escape, and he leans back down when Sandhagen’s elbows start to have an appreciable effect. Sandhagen looks to isolate Vera’s right arm, but he cannot hold it as Vera slides out and explodes to his feet. Vera gets off a front kick to the chest, and he checks a calf kick. They trade jabs, and Sandhagen follows one with an uppercut that gets Vera’s attention. Sandhagen reaches his man with punches on the outside of the guard, and Vera misses when retaliating. Vera catches a body kick, and he lets it go when Sandhagen posts off his other arm and fights back up. Vera walks forward without throwing much in the way of offense, and Sandhagen dodges the strikes that come at him before the bell rings.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Jack Dankoff scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Round 3
“Chito” rushes to the center of the cage to start off, having dropped the first two rounds unquestionably. Vera does not throw as Sandhagen is active from a distance, and he finally chambers and fires a head kick that is blocked. Sandhagen replies with a few long jabs, and Vera answers that with a front kick to the sternum. Vera reaches a left hand over the guard, and it is one-and-done while Sandhagen switches stances constantly and prods with punches and kicks. A blocked from kick from Sandhagen causes him to fall over, and when he climbs back up, Vera meets him with a thudding calf kick that stuns Sandhagen momentarily. Vera stomps the front knee and reaches with his left hand, and he kicks the body. Vera stuffs an oncoming takedown and makes his foe pay with a front kick, but Sandhagen strings together a few punches and a body kick to respond. Vera drills his opponent with a one-two, and Sandhagen walks through it and snaps the head back with an uppercut. As Vera loops a left, Sandhagen changes levels but cannot complete the takedown. Vera pushes off and starts to walk Sandhagen down, and they trade right hands. Sandhagen swipes at him with a clean left hook, and Vera tries to give him one back but Sandhagen is faster and beats him to the punch. They both get off front kicks in an exchange, and Vera goes up high with a kick that slams into the shoulder. Vera jabs to the body, and Sandhagen’s looping uppercut finds its home again. Vera swings while Sandhagen fires punches at him, and they miss while Sandhagen’s rangier blows connect. “Chito” jumps forward with a front kick, and he stalks after Sandhagen and has his lead leg kicked for it. At the waning seconds, Vera jumps at his opponent with a knee, but Sandhagen is feet away at the bell.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Jack Dankoff scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Round 4
The championship rounds have been reached, and Sandhagen strikes first with a front kick, and he turns through with momentum to land a spinning back kick. Sandhagen punches his way forward with an uppercut, and he charges for a double. Vera stands him up and dings him with a knee, but Sandhagen tries again and fail once more. When they separate, Sandhagen gets off a few punches before ducking for a double, and Vera’s sprawl is excellent as he remains on his feet. Sandhagen digs a left to the liver and moves actively and frequently to not stand still in front of his opponent. Vera attempts to cut angles and back Sandhagen off, but “The Sandman” connects with several punches and has a flying knee bounce of Vera’s raised arms. Vera lands one single jab, and Sandhagen strings three punches and a low kick together – but the kick is checked. Sandhagen jabs, staying elusive and switching stances relentlessly. Vera cannot seem to lock him down or find the timing, and he swings with a left hook that Sandhagen dodges. Vera kicks the calf hard, and that kick is checked. Sandhagen swipes with a left hook, and Vera chains a few punches to the body up to a few to the head. Sandhagen jabs, switches stances, and jabs with the other lead hand, flustering “Chito” with his awkward movement and timing. Sandhagen loops a left over the guard, and he sits down on a low kick that Vera cannot defend. The crowd is extremely restless after the relative lack of action compared to its initial promise, as fans start whistling and holding up illuminated cellphones. Vera is similarly irritated, trying and failing to chase down and corner the Colorado native. Vera reaches his man with a front kick and a left hand, but Sandhagen is able to block the subsequent efforts. Vera spins with a kick before the horn, and the audience is not amused.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Jack Dankoff scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Round 5
The last round of this disappointing – from an action standpoint, not tactically – headliner begins, and Sandhagen is happy to pick up where he left off. Sandhagen pushes the pace a little with a few heavier jabs after Vera lands flush a few times, and he shoots for a takedown. Vera stuffs it and takes a knee square in the midsection. Vera is tripped out and tackled to the mat, and he tries to throw up upkicks and may have landed an illegal blow to a grounded Sandhagen in the process. Sandhagen fights off a high guard and submission setup, and he allows Vera to roll laterally so that he can lower himself into the guard. Sandhagen is comfortable taking top position, and Vera kicks him in the chest and gets away with another slapping foot to the downed Sandhagen’s face. Vera explodes to his feet at the midpoint of the final frame, and Sandhagen lines up several punches to back Vera off. “Chito” tosses out a half-hearted leg kick, and he turns to fire one to the body. Vera knocks Sandhagen back with two punches, but “The Sandman” is not concerned as he gets right back to pressuring the pressure fighter. Sandhagen keeps changing stances and jabbing and poking at Vera with feet and fists, and he dodges and parries the lumbering but looping punches that come at him. Vera jumps forward with a left hook, and Sandhagen replies in kind. Vera reaches at the end of a jabbing punch, only to be met with Sandhagen’s short combination. Sandhagen kicks high off the guard, and Vera spins with a kick to the ribs. Vera pressures, and he staves off a rushing double. Vera catches a kick and slams his foot into the body from an odd angle, and he takes Sandhagen from behind and pushes him to the wall. Vera connects with a solid elbow, and he pours it on with high kicks from both legs, swinging punches and kicks, and anything else he can muster. Instead of throwing this all during the first 24-plus minutes of the match, Vera saved it for one final, desperate effort, and Sandhagen blocks or dodges the worst of it. As Vera charges like a bull, Sandhagen points at him, and the last horn blows to put an end to the less-than-thrilling main attraction. In his post-fight interview, Sandhagen states that he would “feel slimy” if he asked for a title shot over Merab Dvalishvili, so he prepares a line and challenges the Georgian to a fight. If that comes together, we will be here for it. Next week, there is a break from the UFC – but there will be Fight Circus, so stay tuned for coverage on that – and we return on April 8 with UFC 287. We will also be for here for that, and we hope you are too.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen (50-45 Sandhagen)
Edwin Ayala scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen (50-45 Sandhagen)
Jack Dankoff scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen (50-45 Sandhagen)
The Official Result
Cory Sandhagen def. Marlon Vera via Split Decision (47-48, 50-45, 49-46)
Angelo picks Sandhagen because he is younger, durable, and has a versatile striking style with sneaky power. He notes that Vera's recent wins came against older, declining fighters like Rob Font, Dominic Cruz, and Frankie Edgar, and that Sandhagen is a different challenge. He believes Sandhagen's weird movements and toughness will neutralize Vera's power, and that Vera's habit of losing early before finding a finish won't work against Sandhagen. He admits he has never correctly picked a Vera fight but thinks this is where Vera's luck runs out.
Big Brady picks Marlon Vera as a dog, arguing that while Sandhagen is the better overall fighter with more volume and movement, Vera is a 'moment winner' who can land big shots and sway judges. He notes Vera's ability to get outstruck but still win rounds by landing damaging blows, as seen in the Rob Font fight. Brady believes Vera has 25 minutes to find Sandhagen's chin and predicts a fourth-round knockout, though he acknowledges a close decision is possible.
Cody picks Sandhagen based on pure volume and fast starting ability. He notes Sandhagen lands a high number of significant strikes (169 vs Yanez, 128 vs Dillashaw) and that Vera is a slow starter who often drops the first round. He believes Sandhagen will bank the early rounds and win a decision, though he acknowledges Vera's durability and late-round finishing ability. He suggests betting Sandhagen by decision to improve the line.
Connor sees Sandhagen as a heavily upgraded version of the opponents Vera has been beating (Rob Font, Dominick Cruz). He believes Sandhagen's durability, conditioning, adaptability, and elusive defense will be too much for Vera's 'anti-process' style. He compares it to Yoel Romero vs Robert Whittaker, suggesting Sandhagen is Vera's Whittaker.
Jacob picks Vera, noting that he was a former hater but converted after Vera beat Rob Font. He argues that Vera is excellent at making reads over time and capitalizing, and that Sandhagen is hittable because he stands in front of opponents and doesn't move his head. He thinks Sandhagen's toughness means he gets hit, and Vera's power at bantamweight is a serious threat. He predicts Vera will find a shot and finish Sandhagen, possibly by submission in the third round.
The host believes Sandhagen is the best puzzle for Vera since his winning streak, citing Sandhagen's ability to keep up with Vera's cardio and put together a full MMA game. He notes Sandhagen is defensively responsible enough to avoid big strikes and can tie Vera up in the clinch if needed. He expects Sandhagen to get off his own game from distance and allow the judges to see it in his favor, predicting Sandhagen wins by decision despite possibly dropping a round or two.
The Guru picks Sandhagen over Vera, arguing that Sandhagen is much better than Vera's recent opponents like Cruz and Font. He highlights Sandhagen's diverse attack (leg kicks, body shots, takedowns) and toughness, believing he can avoid Vera's power and win a decision. He notes Vera's ability to find finishes but thinks Sandhagen's movement and durability will carry him.
Zane picks Sandhagen because Vera is scary but has recent losses to Jose Aldo and Song Yadong. He notes Sandhagen is harder to track and predict than Font or Cruz, and Vera's clinch wrestling is less of a threat than Dillashaw's. He expects Sandhagen to be elusive enough to win, though Vera could steal rounds with damage.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 94 of 222 | 42% | 130 of 259 | 1 of 14 | 7% | 0 | 0 | 3:47 |
| Song Yadong | 0 | 54 of 145 | 37% | 130 of 224 | 2 of 2 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 1:39 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 19 of 52 | 36% | 30 of 63 | 0 of 3 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:46 |
| Song Yadong | 0 | 14 of 28 | 50% | 23 of 37 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:55 | |
| 2 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 21 of 52 | 40% | 24 of 55 | 0 of 4 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:48 |
| Song Yadong | 0 | 15 of 44 | 34% | 36 of 65 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 29 of 63 | 46% | 30 of 64 | 0 of 5 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:32 |
| Song Yadong | 0 | 13 of 48 | 27% | 26 of 61 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 4 | Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 25 of 55 | 45% | 46 of 77 | 1 of 2 | 50% | 0 | 0 | 1:41 |
| Song Yadong | 0 | 12 of 25 | 48% | 45 of 61 | 1 of 1 | 100% | 0 | 0 | 0:44 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cory Sandhagen | 94 of 222 | 42% | 62 of 186 | 17 of 21 | 15 of 15 | 86 of 213 | 5 of 6 | 3 of 3 |
| Song Yadong | 54 of 145 | 37% | 36 of 125 | 13 of 15 | 5 of 5 | 44 of 132 | 10 of 13 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Cory Sandhagen | 19 of 52 | 36% | 10 of 43 | 7 of 7 | 2 of 2 | 18 of 50 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Song Yadong | 14 of 28 | 50% | 9 of 23 | 3 of 3 | 2 of 2 | 11 of 24 | 3 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Cory Sandhagen | 21 of 52 | 40% | 14 of 43 | 2 of 4 | 5 of 5 | 19 of 50 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Song Yadong | 15 of 44 | 34% | 11 of 39 | 4 of 5 | 0 of 0 | 11 of 40 | 4 of 4 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Cory Sandhagen | 29 of 63 | 46% | 21 of 54 | 3 of 4 | 5 of 5 | 27 of 61 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Song Yadong | 13 of 48 | 27% | 8 of 42 | 3 of 4 | 2 of 2 | 13 of 48 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Cory Sandhagen | 25 of 55 | 45% | 17 of 46 | 5 of 6 | 3 of 3 | 22 of 52 | 0 of 0 | 3 of 3 |
| Song Yadong | 12 of 25 | 48% | 8 of 21 | 3 of 3 | 1 of 1 | 9 of 20 | 3 of 5 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogBETTING PREVIEW | SCOUTING REPORT | ODDS: Sandhagen (-195), Song (+165)
Round 1
with top-five ramifications, serves as the only match between ranked competitors on this 13-fight billing. Sandhagen (14-4, 7-3 UFC) took nearly a year off after his failed bid for the interim 135-pound strap, while Song (19-6-1, 1 NC; 8-1-1 UFC) is a younger man on the rise at 24 years of age. Receiving the honor of reffing the final fracas of the night is Herb Dean, who laces up his running shoes to keep up with these two fist-first fighters. Before throwing down, the two slap hands and bump fists with the intention of keeping things on the up-and-up. Sandhagen starts out switching stances multiple times in the opening seconds, and he punches his way into a takedown attempt. He bowls Song into the wall, but there is no takedown to come from it. Song defends with a few knees up the middle, and one bumps into the cup. Sandhagen tells Dean he is good to go and does not want to lose position, and they do not break. Song pushes off with a pair of hooks, and gets backed with a jab to the body. Sandhagen spins with a wheel kick that bounces off the guard, and he falls to the mat. Song does not follow him, and he lets Sandhagen stand up so that he can drill him with a left hand. They clinch up, and Song elbows once to force a separation. Sandhagen bullies his way into a takedown effort, and Song bowls him over and puts Sandhagen on his back. Sandhagen plays guard off his back, setting up a possible submission, and then bailing on it all to stand up. “Kung Fu Kid” remains on his back, and he grabs hold of a rear-naked choke to force Sandhagen to lower himself to the ground. Sandhagen gets out of the sticky situation by wriggling out, and they tie up against the wire. Sandhagen elbows hard, and he ducks back right before two big punches reach him. Sandhagen winds up with a loud liver kick, and Song takes it flush without batting an eye. They trade jabs, and a fake takedown try forces a sprawl that makes Song fall to his knees. Sandhagen lets him up and starts piercing the guard with jabs, and he blocks the follow-up counters that fly his way. Another fake takedown draws an exaggerated defensive reaction from his opponent, and Sandhagen lets him up to jab his way to the end of the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Song
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Song
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Song
Round 2
The fighters are amped up to get back to it, and Dean clocks them in and has to step back fast. Song advances straight ahead, and Sandhagen is moving side to side while jabbing. Sandhagen leaps in the air with a knee that misses, and he gets struck with a straight right hand down the pipe. Sandhagen scores a low kick and keeps his jab in Song’s face, and Song jumps through it with a power left hand. Sandhagen snaps the head back with a jab, and Song sits down on a left hand that makes Sandhagen stagger back to the wall. Sandhagen gathers his thoughts and goes after another flying knee, but it is not there for him. He does throw to the head and body to mix things up as he gets his wits about him, and he changes levels to take Song down. Song scrambles ahis way upright again and makes his man pay with a short right hand, and they clank heads when coming together. Song grins with delight as an elbow from Sandhagen tears open a cut on the corner of his eye, and blood leaks down a little but does not seem to bother him. Sandhagen pushes in for a takedown, and crimson liquid starts flowing into the eye. Sandhagen rails his man with an elbow before breaking from the clinch, and Song’s eye is a busted mess. Sandhagen backs away and unloads with a liver kick, and he keeps jabbing until Song plods forward with a three-punch salvo. Song throws with fire, and Sandhagen just barely rolls through it and lands a pair of low kicks. “Sandman” dips and ducks the power punches that come at him, and he even lets a flying knee soar past him. Sandhagen plants a front kick on the chin and chains a leg kick into it, and Song smiles but does not connect with anything in response. Three punches from Song come up short, with his depth perception possibly struggling due to the plasma coating his eye. A clinch leads to an explosion from Song, who loads up on several big punches one after the other. Sandhagen responds with his own combination, and the knee pops Song in the chops right before the horn blares. The cut on Song’s eye could be a fight-ender, so it remains to be seen how the doctor evaluates it.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Round 3
The doctor tells Dean to keep an eye on the cut, but he is letting the fight continue into the third round. Song walks right into a body kick, and he replies in kind but it has less impact. Sandhagen kicks the lead leg and escapes out the side when Song sits down on a counter, and both men block high kicks. Sandhagen remains active with low kicks, and he ducks a massive haymaker of a right hand and shoots in on a takedown. Song stuffs it and clubs him with a left hand, and Sandhagen grits his teeth and retreats. Their heads clash together as Sandhagen attempts another takedown, and Song stops it in its tracks and makes Sandhagen pay with a trio of powerful punches. Sandhagen answers him with a step-in knee, and Song eats it like Szechuan beef and keeps on forging ahead. Song swings and misses with a salvo, and Sandhagen slides back and jabs a few times to cause the cut to start bleeding again. Song punches his way forward, but Sandhagen is the one who tags him with a few jabs. Sandhagen takes for a takedown to get a reaction, and then actually attempts one. Song gets shoved back to the wall, and scarlet fluid covers his face and turns it a brilliant shade. Song stings Sandhagen with a left hand, only for Sandhagen to nail him with an elbow. A takedown try from “Sandman” is staved off, and he brushes off a striking array that zooms at him. Sandhagen has a kick pound into the guard, and he snaps out a jab that causes Song to spit blood out. Sandhagen skirts on the outer edge of the cage as Song tries to cut him off, and it allows him to stay at his preferred range. Song bowls forward throwing hammers, and Sandhagen slips them and pokes him back with a few jabs. Song is prepared for a takedown entry from his opponent, but he absorbs a few jabs that chain into a left to the body. Sandhagen gets a flying knee through the guard, and blood is positively streaming down Song’s face. Once again, the doctor will have to make a tough call.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Round 4
Dean is informed by the doctor that should any more damage come around the eye, he needs to call the fight to protect Song from permanent damage. Song is thankful to keep going, and he loads up on several power strikes including a body kick and several strikes to the body. A response of a body kick from Sandhagen and two punches open it again, and Dean is watching it very closely. Sandhagen goes up high with a kick, and Song blocks and counters. Sandhagen marches forward with jabs from both arms as he switches stances, and he kicks the body. Song catches it and powers through it to trip “Sandman” up and take him to the mat. Plasma flows freely on Sandhagen’s face and into his mouth, and he explodes back to his feet and gets pushed back to the wire. Sandhagen spins him around and trips Song out. Song climbs back up, but he takes a head kick when he does. Song wings haymakers and catches Sandhagen, but Sandhagen is quick and accurate with jabs and straight punches. Sandhagen targets the wrecked eye with impunity, and Song gives chase and barely registers that his eyebrow is nearly hanging off his head. Sandhagen mixes up jabs and kicks, and Song’s power punches are telegraphed and largely hitting air. Song smiles when he takes punishment, and even though he dodges a few punches, Sandhagen goes the body and head. A single from Sandhagen succeeds in getting Song down to his seat, and he grinds his elbow on the cut. Blood streams from Song’s face, covering the mat with a dark red pool beneath his head. Sandhagen postures up with a few elbows, and Song practically laughs at him, giving his best “you don’t know where I’ve been, Lou” impression while on his back, drenched in hemoglobin. The horn sounds, and he cannot see out of his eye when he stands up.
The cutman tries to tend to the gash, but it is beginning to swell and it appears to be the type that even the most “just bleed” physician could not allow to continue. The doctor, who cleared Song to fight in Rounds 3 and 4, informs Dean that he does not like what he is seeing from the massacred eye of the 24-year-old. Dean does not hesitate, and he waves the fight off after hearing this, to save the youngster from long-lasting harm that could develop further with five more minutes of brutality.
This is a gruesome but fitting end to a violent and sanguine evening, one that comes with a week off to process all that transpired over the last few weeks. The UFC will return in October, and when it does, we will be here for it. We hope you are too.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Tristen Critchfield scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
The Official Result
Cory Sandhagen def. Yadong Song R4 5:00 via TKO (Doctor Stoppage)
Angelo leans Sandhagen primarily because of his five-round experience and ability to recover from bad rounds. He notes that Sandhagen is a fluid striker with good combinations and BJJ, but he lacks takedown volume. Angelo is not confident and thinks the odds are wide. He considers a plus points bet on Yadong.
Big Brady picks Cory Sandhagen to win by decision. He argues that Sandhagen is the better striker overall with higher volume (6.42 significant strikes per minute) and has fought much tougher competition (Yan, Dillashaw, Sterling). Brady notes that Sandhagen has never been knocked out and has excellent striking defense. He believes Song Yadong's power is a threat, but Sandhagen's durability and output should carry him to a decision win. Brady also mentions that this is Song's first five-round fight, which could be a factor. He is surprised by the public support for Song as a dog.
Cody agrees Sandhagen is the more refined fighter with better cardio and versatility. He highlights Sandhagen's wrestling improvements since the Sterling loss and his ability to maintain high output. Cody thinks Song's lack of five-round experience and tendency to slow down will be exploited. He calls Sandhagen a good top ticket play but not the most confident pick on the card.
Daniel Levi picks Song Yadong at plus 175 odds, placing one unit on him. He believes Song has enough output to make his harder shots count against Sandhagen's volume, and that the fight could be close enough for Song's power strikes to sway judges. He notes Sandhagen's year off and potential ring rust, and thinks the odds should be closer. He respects Sandhagen but sees value in the underdog.
Jacob picks Yadong, comparing his style to Petr Yan's and noting that Yadong is faster and more powerful now at 24. He believes Yadong's speed and power will close the distance and land big shots, potentially knocking down Sandhagen. Jacob thinks Yadong is peaking at the right time and can win by decision or finish.
Sandhagen is the master of distance and will make Song whiff, tiring him out. Sandhagen's footwork and in-and-out movement will keep him out of the pocket where Song's power is most dangerous. Sandhagen's cardio is superior for five rounds, and he has been training BJJ with Ryan Hall to add submission threats. Song's best path is leg kicks or an early knockout, but Sandhagen's style is a tough puzzle for Song at this stage. I expect Sandhagen to take over as the fight goes on and win a decision.
Paul thinks Sandhagen's five-round experience against TJ Dillashaw and Petr Yan is a huge advantage. He notes Sandhagen's durability and high output will be key, as Song Yadong is a counter puncher who will struggle with Sandhagen's volume. Paul believes Sandhagen will outwork Song over five rounds, though he acknowledges Song's power and youth make it not a lock. He also likes the under 4.5 rounds at plus money.
The MMA Guru picks Cory Sandhagen by decision. He acknowledges Song Yadong is an underrated prospect but notes Yadong has struggled against rangy, mobile strikers who switch stances, like Kyler Phillips and Casey Kenny. He believes Sandhagen is too good, too rangy, and too smart, and will take over as the fight goes on. He expects Sandhagen to lose the first round but win the last three or four rounds, with scorecards like 48-47 or 49-46.
Totals
| Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petr Yan | 1 | 149 of 270 | 55% | 158 of 280 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 1 | 1 | 1:09 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 169 of 445 | 37% | 172 of 449 | 1 of 6 | 16% | 0 | 1 | 0:20 |
Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | KD | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Total Str. | TD | TD % | Sub. Att | Rev. | Ctrl |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Petr Yan | 0 | 19 of 37 | 51% | 19 of 37 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 37 of 85 | 43% | 39 of 87 | 0 of 2 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:10 | |
| 2 | Petr Yan | 0 | 38 of 65 | 58% | 40 of 67 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:05 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 45 of 113 | 39% | 45 of 113 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 | |
| 3 | Petr Yan | 1 | 36 of 57 | 63% | 41 of 63 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:40 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 37 of 86 | 43% | 37 of 87 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 1 | 0:07 | |
| 4 | Petr Yan | 0 | 36 of 67 | 53% | 38 of 69 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 1 | 0 | 0:24 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 25 of 83 | 30% | 26 of 84 | 1 of 3 | 33% | 0 | 0 | 0:03 | |
| 5 | Petr Yan | 0 | 20 of 44 | 45% | 20 of 44 | 0 of 1 | 0% | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 0 | 25 of 78 | 32% | 25 of 78 | 0 of 0 | --- | 0 | 0 | 0:00 |
Significant Strikes
| Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Petr Yan | 149 of 270 | 55% | 100 of 217 | 27 of 29 | 22 of 24 | 135 of 252 | 7 of 9 | 7 of 9 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 169 of 445 | 37% | 118 of 389 | 28 of 32 | 23 of 24 | 168 of 443 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
Significant Strikes Per Round
| Rd | Fighter | Sig. Str. | Sig. Str. % | Head | Body | Leg | Distance | Clinch | Ground |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Petr Yan | 19 of 37 | 51% | 4 of 21 | 4 of 4 | 11 of 12 | 17 of 35 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 37 of 85 | 43% | 21 of 68 | 6 of 6 | 10 of 11 | 36 of 83 | 1 of 2 | 0 of 0 | |
| 2 | Petr Yan | 38 of 65 | 58% | 23 of 50 | 8 of 8 | 7 of 7 | 36 of 63 | 2 of 2 | 0 of 0 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 45 of 113 | 39% | 30 of 95 | 9 of 12 | 6 of 6 | 45 of 113 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 3 | Petr Yan | 36 of 57 | 63% | 29 of 49 | 5 of 6 | 2 of 2 | 28 of 46 | 1 of 2 | 7 of 9 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 37 of 86 | 43% | 29 of 78 | 4 of 4 | 4 of 4 | 37 of 86 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 4 | Petr Yan | 36 of 67 | 53% | 28 of 59 | 8 of 8 | 0 of 0 | 34 of 64 | 2 of 3 | 0 of 0 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 25 of 83 | 30% | 20 of 77 | 4 of 5 | 1 of 1 | 25 of 83 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 | |
| 5 | Petr Yan | 20 of 44 | 45% | 16 of 38 | 2 of 3 | 2 of 3 | 20 of 44 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
| Cory Sandhagen | 25 of 78 | 32% | 18 of 71 | 5 of 5 | 2 of 2 | 25 of 78 | 0 of 0 | 0 of 0 |
Play-by-Play
View on SherdogRound 1
Even though the UFC bantamweight belt traded hands less than eight months ago, the interim strap is now up for grabs when ex-champ Yan (15-2, 7-1 UFC) gets another crack at gold against fellow recently defeated Sandhagen (14-3, 7-2 UFC). This will be the first title fight in UFC history where both challengers are coming off a loss, but the excitement is still palpable. Even referee Jason Herzog is pumped up about this potential 135-pound thriller, and the fighters do not want to touch gloves as they would rather use their fists to slug the other in the face. Yan takes the center of the cage, eager to come out firing, but he stops short of throwing anything when Sandhagen sticks a jab in his face. Sandhagen scores a leg kick, and chants in support of Yan rain down through the arena. Sandhagen continues to work the lead leg with accurate strikes, and he pegs the ball of his foot to the sternum to surprise Yan. Yan walks him down but is getting kept at bay with effective kicks. One such kick makes Yan do a slight turn, and Yan’s left hand is cocked back with nowhere to go. The strikes from Sandhagen are effective enough to thwart much of the offense of his opponent, but a left hook from Yan partially gest through. Sandhagen works the body, and he gets poked in the eye and rubs it out as Yan offers a glove touch apology. Yan lands a kick to the body, and Sandhagen returns with a left to the liver. Yan succeeds with a leg kick, and Sandhagen swarms him with a salvo of punches. The American catches his foe off-guard by changing levels and threatening with a sudden takedown. Although he does not get Yan down, he makes Yan think about one more element. They both land to the body when they get free, and Yan scores a left hand counter as Sandhagen lands from afar. Sandhagen punctuates combinations with leg kicks, with his volume being the difference maker so far in the opening frame. Yan keeps his fingers outstretched and nearly pokes Sandhagen in the eye again, but Sandhagen fights through it. Sandhagen pressures his foe with a long string of punches, landing without putting everything behind every blow. When Yan guards high, Sandhagen goes low. Yan walks Sandhagen down but gets tagged in response, and the ex-champ scores a solid pair of leg kicks. Sandhagen ducks down for a single, and Yan nails him with an elbow over the top to force them to separate. Sandhagen eats a leg kick and jumps in the air with a knee, and this fast-paced round ends as Herzog warns Yan for his fingers pointed straight out.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen
Round 2
The second round begins as Yan loads up on power strikes, with a few leg kicks to start on the calf. Yan backs off and stomps down with a kick, and Sandhagen punches his way in to a combination. Sandhagen delivers some damage to the body, but Yan is right there to do the same with his own salvo of strikes. Sandhagen counters several Yan strikes so that he can slap him in the face with a kick. Yan gets stung with a strike from his opponent, and he loads up with a right hand that rocks Sandhagen for a moment. “Sandman” appears no worse for wear, although his body is getting marked up as he is getting red all over – this may be simply from the lightness of his complexion, and not that he is absorbing an unusual amount of punishment. Sandhagen slides out of the way from looping punches from the former champ, and he gets off several punches to back him off. Sandhagen stands in front of his opponent and decks him with a few punches. Yan spins after absorbing a blow to spin with a back fist, and the blocked impact is still substantial. Both men land with fast punches, and Yan goes to the body with kicks while Sandhagen attacks the lead leg. A low single from Sandhagen gets stuffed, and Yan defends with a guillotine choke setup before elbowing Sandhagen to make him step off. Sandhagen leaps in the air with a knee that clatters off Yan’s guard, and he sticks Yan and moves with several jabs. Sandhagen stays on his bike as Yan is looking for a home run right hand, although the American does absorb a crisp left hand. The round is quite close, and it ends as they stare the other down.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Yan
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Yan
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Yan
Round 3
The third frame commences as Sandhagen lands on the outside with kicks. When he lands one, Yan tries to pay him back, and Sandhagen checks it hard to make Yan wobble back as it seemed to hurt badly. Yan recovers well enough to spin with a back kick to the body, and Sandhagen pays it no mind as he lances through Yan’s guard with straight right hands. Sandhagen has a few more punches penetrate Yan’s shell of a high guard, before going low with kicks. Yan keeps his fingers pointed towards his opponent despite the warnings of Herzog. Yan swings for the fences, only for Sandhagen to duck and tag him with a counter left hook. “Sandman” resets and puts two punches together into a leg kick, and Yan checks this one. Yan appears to slap Sandhagen in the side of his head with an open palm, and Sandhagen is fired up from this as he pressures Yan and lands several blows. Yan manages to snap Sandhagen’s head back, but the American dodges most of the remainder of the barrage. Sandhagen’s head movement keeps him safe from harm, and Sandhagen keeps a safe range and consistently lands on his opponent from afar. Whether jabs or low kicks, Sandhagen continues to keep Yan from unloading his most dangerous combinations. A pair of power punches from Yan gets Sandhagen’s attention, and he nails Sandhagen with a few more punches. Suddenly, Yan follows a punch with a spinning back fist and a left hook that knocks Sandhagen off his feet, and Yan chases him down to the ground to try to pound him out. The scrambles for Sandhagen allow him to not take much damage or fall into submission danger, but Yan is constantly fishing for something or trying to get strikes off. When they finally get back up, Yan lands with a big left hand and Sandhagen back off but takes a knee to the body to end the round.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Yan
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Yan
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Yan
Round 4
The first championship round begins as Sandhagen appears to have gotten his bearings about him. Yan is the aggressor, throwing big strikes at his opponent in hopes of dropping him again. Sandhagen has a flying knee blocked, and he goes back to his successful strategy of making Yan miss as he tags him from out far. Sandhagen appears to get clipped with a left hand, but he shakes it off and just dodges two windmilling punches that whiz by him. Two punches from Sandhagen get countered with much heavier blows from the former champ, and he puts a front kick to the body to get Yan to back off for a moment. Yan is staying in Sandhagen’s face, kicking him to the body and going up top with power punches that knock Sandhagen’s head back. The power advantage remains firmly on the side of the Russian, and Sandhagen recognizes this and shoots in for a takedown. This time, Sandhagen hits it, and Yan is aware and threatens with a leg lock from his back. The submission forces Sandhagen to scramble, and they both stand up. Sandhagen again shoots for a low single, but this time he decides to get off some standing elbows. A spinning back fist from Sandhagen makes Yan laugh, and the Russian Terminator that is Yan stalks Sandhagen down and works him to the body. The punches make Sandhagen bounce off the cage, as he has timed Sandhagen’s movement and counter effectively. Sandhagen counters a spinning back fist with short elbows, but Yan blasts him in the face with a few punches that force Sandhagen to attack a takedown. When Yan stuffs him, Sandhagen does not instantly get back up, instead holding on to Yan’s leg perhaps in an effort to take a breath. Sandhagen has a punch transition into an elbow, and a knee he throws is not fast enough to get through the guard. Yan gives chase as Sandhagen’s hands are down by his side, and the boxing range is where the round concludes.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Yan
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Yan
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Yan
Round 5
Sandhagen talks to his foe between rounds, and he keeps this intensity going when the round begins by sticking his hand in Yan’s face repeatedly. None of the punches have much behind them, as Sandhagen is careful to not stay anywhere for long so that he does not eat a big power punch. When he stays in one place, Yan lands a left hand and a leg kick that spins him around. When Sandhagen comes back around, he lands an inside leg kick that makes a thud sound. Yan winds up with a left hand that scores right on the nose, and he fakes with a left hand so that he can get off a body kick. Yan ignores a leg kick so that he can close in and get off a big left hand, and Sandhagen reacts and escapes. The offense largely falls off a cliff as Sandhagen stays on his bike, while Yan swings for the air. Sandhagen pushes in for a takedown after a body kick, and he lands a few jabs on the way out. Yan slings a head kick that appears to blast Sandhagen in the face as clean as can be, and Sandhagen just looks at him and raises his arms in the air like a Diaz brother. Sandhagen sticks out a few jabs and stays far enough away from the big shots of his opponent, and Yan is consistently giving chase but not able to connect with much of note. Yan does land one to take three, and he connects at the end of a right when Sandhagen escapes. The American dodges a spinning back fist this time, and he keeps moving and gets a jump knee through. Two punches and a spinning wheel kick from Sandhagen bounce off his shoulder, and he again throws his hands up and runs at Yan to tag him with another flying knee. The two bantamweights swing it out to the bell, and when it sounds, the crowd is so excited by the final exchange, they cannot hear it. Instead, they keep on throwing everything they have until Herzog leaps in and just misses absorbing a significant strike or two. They shake hands after 25 minutes of action, and Yan has likely won the de facto number one contender belt -- the interim title, as it were -- and a rematch with Aljamain Sterling.
Sherdog Scores
Jay Pettry scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen (48-47 Yan)
Brian Knapp scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen (48-47 Yan)
Tyler Treese scores the round: 10-9 Sandhagen (48-47 Yan)
The Official Result
Petr Yan def. Cory Sandhagen Via Unanimous Decision (49-46, 49-46, 49-46)
Big Brady picks Petr Yan to win a competitive decision. He notes both are great strikers, but Yan has the edge in boxing and can mix in takedowns. Sandhagen's takedown defense is a weakness (65% on paper, but was lower before the Dillashaw fight). Yan's wrestling and control time should be the difference. He expects a close fight but Yan edges it out.
Cody is high on Petr Yan, calling him a 'terminator' with cardio, striking, and underrated wrestling. He notes Yan has scored takedowns in his last six fights, including against Aljamain Sterling and Jose Aldo. He thinks Yan's wrestling will be the difference against Sandhagen, who can be taken down. He suggests betting Yan live for a better price but is confident Yan wins.
Daniel picks Petr Yan to defend his title, calling him a top-five pound-for-pound fighter. He highlights Yan's well-roundedness, cardio, and ability to lull opponents into a false sense of security before dropping them. Daniel notes Yan's takedown success against Jose Aldo and Aljamain Sterling, and believes Sandhagen's clinch issues and tendency to give up his back will be exploited. He predicts a fourth-round TKO.
Sandhagen's volume and output from distance will be Yan's kryptonite. Yan prefers to strike but Sandhagen throws 16.5 strikes per minute from outside and has the cardio to maintain it. Yan's takedowns are a threat, but he doesn't usually grapple heavily. Sandhagen wins a volume-based decision.
Paul agrees with Cody, adding that playing Yan live is risky because Yan might get an early takedown and the line will move to -400. He thinks Sandhagen's only chance is if it's a pure striking match, but Yan's wrestling will be the difference. He sees Yan as the clear side.
The MMA Guru picks Petr Yan to win by TKO in the later rounds. He highlights Yan's grappling, especially when taking the back, and notes that Sandhagen gives up his back frequently. He thinks Yan will catch kicks, sweep, and take Sandhagen down. He questions Sandhagen's KO power, noting his recent finishes were against chinny opponents. He predicts Yan will be patient, chop at the legs, and eventually finish Sandhagen in the fourth or fifth round.
Expert Picks (4)
Big Brady leans toward Cory Sandhagen, believing he has a clear advantage on the feet and can scramble back up if taken down. He notes Sandhagen's takedown defense is low but his scrambles are excellent. He expects a close decision and thinks Sandhagen's striking will be the difference. He acknowledges Sterling could win and says it's a tough fight to bet.
Daniel calls it a 50/50 fight but leans Sandhagen due to his length, volume, and ability to get up from takedowns. He notes Sandhagen's 27% takedown defense but creative get-ups, and worries about Sterling's body-lock pressure. He sees Sandhagen landing body shots and slowing Sterling, similar to what Munoz did, but acknowledges Sterling's improvements and output.
Cory Sandhagen has excellent movement, footwork, and ever-improving jiu-jitsu. He is a step ahead of his opponents and should be able to out-strike Aljamain Sterling, who is more unorthodox but less refined. Sandhagen's cardio is great, and he trains at altitude. Sterling may struggle to get takedowns, and Sandhagen's jiu-jitsu is good enough to avoid submissions. Sandhagen is a slight underdog but offers great value.
The MMA Guru picks Cory Sandhagen over Aljamain Sterling. He believes Sandhagen's footwork and range will neutralize Sterling's counter-striking, and that Sandhagen's full camp gives him an advantage. He expects Sandhagen to pick Sterling apart with leg kicks and jabs, winning by unanimous decision. He also notes that Sterling's wide base makes him vulnerable to leg kicks.
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